A Baltic nation in northeastern Europe bordering Belarus and Poland, the Republic of Lithuania bought imported products worth a total US$54.9 billion in 2022.

That dollar metric reflects a 50.5% expansion in Lithuanian spending from $36.5 billion during 2018.

From 2021 to 2022, the overall cost of Lithuania’s imports accelerated by 23.3% from $44.6 billion.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, Lithuania’s currency the euro depreciated by -12.1% against the US dollar since 2018 and weakened by -12.3% from 2021 to 2022. The weaker EU currency in 2022 made imports bought in US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from euros.

Major Suppliers for Lithuania’s Imports

The latest available country-specific data shows that 70.8% of products imported into Lithuania were supplied by exporters in: Germany (35.6% of the Lithuanian global total), Poland (7.5%), Latvia (5.2%), United States of America (5.1%), Sweden (4%), Russia (2.8%), Norway (2.7%), Netherlands (2.2%), Saudi Arabia (also 2.2%), mainland China (1.8%), Italy (1.7%) and Estonia (1.3%).

Applying a continental lens, 79.1% of Lithuania’s total imports by value in 2022 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners provided 12% of Lithuanian import purchases, trailed by suppliers in North America (7.7%).

Tinier percentages came from Africa (0.8%), Latin America (0.3%) excluding Mexico and including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.04%) led by New Zealand and Australia.

Given Lithuania’s population of 2.82 million people, its total $54.9 billion in 2022 imports translates to roughly $19,500 in yearly product demand from every person in the northeastern European country. That dollar metric exceeds the average $16,000 one year earlier in 2021.

Lithuania’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Lithuania’s import purchases during 2022. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Lithuania.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$15.4 billion (28% of total imports)
2. Vehicles: $4.7 billion (8.6%)
3. Machinery including computers: $4.2 billion (7.6%)
4. Electrical machinery, equipment: $3.9 billion (7.1%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $2.3 billion (4.2%)
6. Pharmaceuticals: $1.6 billion (2.9%)
7. Iron, steel: $1.4 billion (2.6%)
8. Wood: $1.242 billion (2.3%)
9. Organic chemicals: $1.241 billion (2.3%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $1.1 billion (2%)

Among these top categories, Lithuania’s imports of mineral fuels including oil (up 109.1% from 2021), organic chemicals (up 34.1%), and vehicles (up 18.5%) increased at the fastest pace year over year.

The worst annual decline was the -4.9% retreat for the machinery including computers product category.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level.

At the more granular 4-digit level HTS code level, Lithuania’s most valuable imported products include crude oil (11.3% of total), petroleum gases (9.5%), electrical energy (4.6%), cars (3.3%), medication mixes in dosage (2.1%), processed petroleum oils (also 2.1%), tractors (1.8%), phone devices including smartphones (1.5%), polycarboxylic acids (1.2%), and computers including optical readers (1%).

Lithuania’s Main Mineral Fuels Imports

In 2022, Lithuanian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.

1. Crude oil: US$6.2 billion (up 47.7% from 2021)
2. Petroleum gases: $5.2 billion (up 454.8%)
3. Electrical energy: $2.5 billion (up 89%)
4. Processed petroleum oils: $1.2 billion (up 66.5%)
5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $95.4 million (up 25.8%)
6. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $78 million (up 207.8%)
7. Peat: $31.6 million (up 46.3%)
8. Petroleum oil residues: $26.8 million (up 6%)
9. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $21.2 million (up 7.5%)
10. Coke, semi-coke: $10 million (up 34.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Lithuanian purchases of petroleum gases (up 454.8%), coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 207.8%) and electrical energy (up 89%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Lithuanian businesses and consumers.

Lithuania’s Main Vehicles Imports

In 2022, Lithuanian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$1.8 billion (up 21.6% from 2021)
2. Tractors: $995.2 million (up 4.1%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $516.1 million (up 3.2%)
4. Trailers: $345.2 million (up 9%)
5. Armored vehicles, tanks: $276 million (up 519.5%)
6. Trucks: $247.3 million (up 4.8%)
7. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $144.7 million (up 24.8%)
8. Motorcycles: $54.2 million (up 5.1%)
9. Special purpose vehicles: $46 million (up 15%)
10. Public-transport vehicles: $26 million (down -7.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Lithuanian purchases of armored vehicles and tanks (up 519.5%), motorcycle parts or accessories (up 24.8%) and cars (up 21.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles-related imports among Lithuanian businesses and consumers.

Lithuania’s Main Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2022, Lithuanian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$544.6 million (down -11.5% from 2021)
2. Harvest/threshing machinery: $234.9 million (up 5.4%)
3. Miscellaneous machinery: $212.5 million (up 9.1%)
4. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $185.3 million (up 14.7%)
5. Soil preparation machinery: $178.7 million (up 10.6%)
6. Refrigerators, freezers: $176.1 million (down -13.7%)
7. Air conditioners: $158 million (up 12.3%)
8. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $149.4 million (down -28.5%)
9. Printing machinery: $137.3 million (down -0.9%)
10. Air or vacuum pumps: $125.1 million (down -9.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Lithuanian purchases of centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 14.7%), air conditioners (up 12.3%) and soil preparation machinery (up 10.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Lithuanian businesses and consumers.

Lithuania’s Main Electronics Imports

In 2022, Lithuanian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$823.2 million (up 5.5% from 2021)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $288.8 million (up 32.7%)
3. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $283.6 million (down -4.8%)
4. Insulated wire/cable: $262.2 million (down -5.3%)
5. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $213.5 million (up 2.3%)
6. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $212.2 million (up 55.9%)
7. Electrical converters/power units: $206.5 million (up 47.2%)
8. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $176.4 million (down -6%)
9. Carbon electrodes, brushes: $127.5 million (up 33.1%)
10. Electric storage batteries: $127.1 million (up 44.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Lithuanian purchases of solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 55.9%), electrical converters and power units (up 47.2%) then electric storage batteries (up 44.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Lithuanian businesses and consumers.
 

See also Lithuania’s Top 10 Exports, Lithuania’s Top Trading Partners, Russia’s Top Trading Partners and Russia’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on April 23, 2023

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on April 23, 2023

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on April 23, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 23, 2023