Estonia Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in estonia, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Agricultural Sector
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Overview 

Estonia’s food market has potential for a range of high-value product imports, particularly for middle and higher-income demographics, the tourism sector, and Estonia’s growing expatriate community. Consolidation among retail outlets through investment by large Scandinavian and Baltic grocery chains developed quickly and may provide new opportunities for exporters. Products targeted by the local restaurant industry, like fish and seafood, nuts, wine, and distilled spirits, are growing in popularity. 

There are long-established consumer preferences for domestic fresh products that have short shelf lives and are free of additives. Although Estonian consumers remain price-sensitive, they are increasingly interested in organic foods. Younger consumers are also interested in new products. Estonia has a food and agricultural trade surplus with the United States and, according to the Estonian Statistical Office, it is a net food exporter. U.S. exports with strong market potential in Estonia include food products like fish (pollock, salmon, hake, roe, surimi), tree nuts (shelled almonds, pistachios, and walnuts), dried fruit (cranberries, prunes), wine, and distilled spirits. Estonian food exports include dairy products, meat products, fish, and beverages. Important Estonia exports to the United States include forest products, cheeses, frozen fish, and preparations, as well as starch, glues, and cotton articles.

Since Estonia’s accession to the EU in 2004, it has harmonized its tariff rates with the EU on most food products. Exporters should first examine whether their products have EU market access. Some commodities, such as meat, poultry, dairy, corn, rice, fresh fruit, and various processed products, face special requirements or even nontariff barriers.

Opportunities 

The USDA attaché provides regular updates on market opportunities, new policy developments, and other information regarding the local food industry. Some standard reports include market briefs on select products.

Trade Data 

Please refer to: The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS). GATS includes international trade statistics on agricultural, fish, forest, and textile products, dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to the present.

Resources 

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Regional Office in Warsaw covers Estonia. 

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