Schwerin (dpa/mv) - Sharp increases in energy prices drove up Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's foreign trade volume in 2022 and gave the state a deficit for the first time in more than 20 years. As the State Chancellery announced on Tuesday in Schwerin, goods worth 20 billion euros crossed the state's borders last year. The export volume increased slightly compared to the previous record year 2021 from 9.6 to 9.8 billion euros. Imports, on the other hand, grew strongly from 7.2 to 10.2 billion euros, mainly as a result of higher energy prices.
The import of crude oil, natural gas and mineral oil products alone was worth almost 1.6 billion euros. Despite the economic sanctions imposed as a result of the war against Ukraine, Russia is likely to have been one of the most important suppliers again. According to statistics, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania imported goods worth 634 million euros from there. This made Russia the fifth most important trading partner for imported goods after Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands and China. Exports from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to Russia only reached a volume of 93 million euros. Goods worth 994 million euros went to the Netherlands, the most important buyer of goods.
