At the start of 2019, Liechtenstein’s foreign trade was less dynamic in comparison with the same period in the previous year. Imports fell more markedly than exports, with imports from the USA falling substantially year on year. Germany remains the main trading partner of Liechtenstein.

According to a press release issued by the Office for Statistics (AS), Liechtenstein exported goods and services totaling 842 million Swiss francs in the first quarter of 2019. This equates to a year-on-year decline of 4.0 percent. Imports in Liechtenstein fell by 5.2 percent to a total of 459 million francs in the same period.

Germany remains Liechtenstein’s most important trading partner in terms of both imports and exports. In the reporting quarter, Liechtenstein exported goods and services in the amount of 198 million francs to Germany, 2.2 percent down on the same quarter in the previous year. Imports from Germany declined by 6.3 percent across the same period to a total of 174 million francs. However, exports to second-placed USA during the reporting quarter remained comparatively stable year on year at 120 million francs, while imports from the USA increased in the same period by 7.1 percent to a total of 22 million francs. Good and services totaling 109 million francs were imported from Austria, Liechtenstein’s second most valuable import partner, during the first quarter of 2019. This equates to a decline of 1.4 percent year on year.

Trade with Switzerland is not included in this data. Generally speaking, surveys on behalf of the Office for Statistics do not take this into account, as the trade of goods with Switzerland is recorded at Swiss border posts.

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