The most valuable Swedish imports also include mobile phones and computers. Fish is another area where Sweden exhibits strong domestic demand, as well as medication mixes in dosage.
The following list shows on which product categories Swedish importers spent the most. Unlike most information currently available on the web, the items below are detailed at the 4-digit tariff code level.
This level of granularity can help entrepreneurs identify more precisely which products in which Sweden has strong demand and perhaps competitive disadvantages compared with other nations. Innovation satisfying that demand can transform these disadvantages into lucrative business opportunities.
For the most recent four-digit HTS code data, please see the link to Sweden’s Top 10 Imports article in the See also paragraph above Research Sources below.
Highest Value Swedish Import Products
Below are the 20 highest value import products delivered to Swedish importers in 2017. Shown within brackets is the change in value for each imported product over the 5-year period starting in 2013.
- Cars: US$9.1 billion (Up 23.3% from 2013 to 2017)
- Crude oil: $7.7 billion (Down -39.7%)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $6.3 billion (Up 24.5%)
- Processed petroleum oils: $6 billion (Down -21.8%)
- Phone system devices including smartphones: $5.8 billion (Down -7.2%)
- Computers, optical readers: $3.5 billion (Down -13.5%)
- Whole fish (fresh): $3.2 billion (Up 16.7%)
- Medication mixes in dosage: $2.6 billion (Down -17.1%)
- Trucks: $1.6 billion (Up 29.9%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.3 billion (Down -6.9%)
- Blood fractions (including antisera): $1.2 billion (Up 32.8%)
- Miscellaneous furniture: $1.2 billion (Up 2.8%)
- Piston engine parts: $1.2 billion (Up 12.3%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $1.1 billion (Up 5.6%)
- Rubber tires (new): $991.5 million (Down -4.2%)
- Machinery parts: $961.2 million (Down -7.4%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $878.1 million (Up 8.4%)
- Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $876 million (Down -11.8%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $866.3 million (Up 8.4%)
- Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays): $850.9 million (Down -8.7%)
Blood fractions including antisera represent Sweden’s fastest-growing top import category, up 32.8% in value from 2013 to 2017.
In second place was Sweden’s imported trucks (up 29.9%) followed by auto parts or accessories (up 24.5%), cars (up 23.3%) and imports of fresh whole fish (up 16.7%).
Leading the decliners was crude oil via a -39.7% drop and a -21.8% setback for refined petroleum oils.
See also Sweden’s Top 10 Exports, Sweden’s Top Trading Partners, Sweden’s Top 10 Imports and Top EU Export Countries
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: Imports 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