Due to the severe Nordic winters and relatively short growing season, Finland relies heavily on imported food and agricultural products.  Finland’s geographical proximity and long-established connections to the Baltic States and Russia offers an ideal business base in Northern Europe.  Increased demand for consumer goods, agribusiness opportunities, food industry investments and tourism in the region has been generated by structural reforms and development of market economies in the Baltic countries and Russia. 

Best prospects:  wine, beer, healthy snacks, dried fruits and nuts, ethnic foods, organic foods, health and diet foods, convenience foods, frozen juices, TexMex items, sauces/seasonings, rice, seafood, pet food, canned fruits and vegetables, and fresh fruits: apples, pears, grapes, cherries, avocados.

Finland is a sophisticated market with a high standard of living, a well-educated workforce and growing incomes. The Finnish consumer has a high acceptance of new products and concepts.  U.S. products are considered high quality and trendy. There is growing consumer demand for value-added products, convenience foods and functional foods as well as a proliferation of "healthy" and "greener" foods.

For current data on agricultural trade prospects with Finland, the reader is referred to the following Internet Web site: www.usemb.se/Agriculture.  The USDA office in Stockholm, which has regional responsibility for Sweden, Finland and Norway, maintains this site.  Its content includes an analytical overview of agricultural marketing opportunities and reports, marketing activities of possible interest to U.S. firms, an array of exporter/importer services, and links to sites containing a detailed current breakdown of individual country imports/exports of agricultural products subdivided into several product categories (bulk, intermediate, consumer-oriented, forestry and fishery).