The most valuable Swedish exports also encompass whole fresh fish, sawn wood and coated paper.
The following list shows which Swedish exports attracted the most international sales during 2017. Unlike most information currently available on the web, the items below are detailed at the 4-digit tariff code level.
More granular data on export sales can help entrepreneurs identify precisely which products in which Sweden has strong competitive advantages over other nations — and identify potential opportunities for innovation.
For the most recent four-digit HTS code data, please see the Searchable List of Sweden’s Most Valuable Exports Products section in the Sweden’s Top 10 Exports article. For a link to that article, see the See also paragraph above Research Sources below.
Highest Value Swedish Export Products
Below are the 10 highest value export products shipped from Sweden in 2017. Shown within brackets for each item is the year-over-year percentage change in value.
- Cars: US$9 billion (up 20.6% since 2016)
- Processed petroleum oils: $7.7 billion (up 18.9%)
- Medication mixes in dosage: $6.2 billion (up 10.3%)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $5.6 billion (up 12.1%)
- Phone system devices including smartphones: $4.6 billion (down -15.7%)
- Whole fish (fresh): $3.2 billion (down -8.1%)
- Sawn wood: $3.1 billion (up 7.7%)
- Coated paper: $2.8 billion (no change)
- Engines (diesel): $2.4 billion (up 4.7%)
- Iron ores, concentrates: $2.3 billion (up 41.3%)
- Tractors: $2.2 billion (up 48.3%)
- Uncoated kraft paper: $2.1 billion (up 4%)
- Computers, optical readers: $1.7 billion (up 21.6%)
- Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving): $1.7 billion (up 5.1%)
- Trucks: $1.7 billion (up 13.8%)
- Machinery parts: $1.5 billion (up 10.8%)
- Uncoated paper for writing/printing: $1.4 billion (up 5.2%)
- Miscellaneous furniture: $1.4 billion (up 3.2%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $1.2 billion (up 30.8%)
- Flat-rolled stainless steel items: $1.2 billion (up 16.5%)
Shipments of Swedish-made tractors posted the greatest sales growth, up 48.3% from 2016 to 2017.
In second place were exported iron ores and concentrates which improved 41.3%.
Exports of electrical converters and power units showed an respectable 30.8% gain. Trailing that subcategory was the 21.6% increase for computers plus optical readers, then Sweden’s international sales of exported cars up 20.6%.
Leading the decliners was Swedish exports of phone system devices including smartphones deteriorating -15.7%.
Overall, total Swedish exports increased in value by an average 9.8% from 2016 to 2017.
See also Sweden’s Top 10 Imports, Sweden’s Top Trading Partners and Sweden’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 25, 2018
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports and World Population, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on March 25, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on March 25, 2018