The Kingdom of Sweden imported US$202.2 billion worth of products from around the world in 2022.

Sweden’s dollar amount for spending on imported products expanded by 18.8% compared to $170.3 billion during 2018.

From 2021 to 2022, the dollar value of Swedish imports rose 8.1% from $187.1 billion.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, the Swedish krona depreciated by -16.4% against the US dollar since 2018 and fell by -17.9% from 2021 to 2022. Sweden’s weaker local currency made its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the Swedish krona.

Applying a continental lens, 80.5% of Sweden’s total imports by value were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners supplied another 13.2% of imports bought by Sweden.

Smaller percentages came from exporters in North America (3.9%), Africa (1.2%), Latin America (0.8%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.4%) led by Australia.

Given Sweden ‘s population of 10.7 million people, its total $202.2 billion in 2022 imports translates to roughly $18,900 in yearly product demand from every person in the country. That dollar average exceeds $17,900 per capita one year earlier in 2021.

Sweden’s Top 10 Imports

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

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$28.4 billion (14% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $24.8 billion (12.3%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $24.1 billion (11.9%)
4. Vehicles: $19.9 billion (9.8%)
5. Plastics, plastic articles: $7.3 billion (3.6%)
6. Iron, steel: $6.7 billion (3.3%)
7. Pharmaceuticals: $6.4 billion (3.2%)
8. Fish: $5.8 billion (2.9%)
9. Articles of iron or steel: $5.4 billion (2.7%)
10. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $5.2 billion (2.5%)

Sweden’s top 10 imports equaled about two-thirds (66.2%) of the overall value of its products purchased from other countries.

Double-digit growers among Sweden’s top import categories are mineral fuels including oil (up 55.6% from 2021), items made from iron or steel (up 19.5%), the metals iron and steel (up 15.5%), and imported fish (up 11.2%).

The most modest year-over-year advance was the 2.4% increase for Sweden’s spending on imported vehicles.

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

Information presented below is at the more granular 4-digit HTS code level.

At the more detailed 4-digit level, Sweden’s most valuable imported products are crude oil (7.4% of Swedish total), cars (4.8%), processed petroleum oils (4.4%), phone devices including smartphones (3.4%), and automobile parts or accessories (2.9%).

Sweden’s Major Mineral Fuels Imports Including Oil

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

1. Crude oil: US$15 billion (up 58.6% from 2021)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $9 billion (up 60.6%)
3. Petroleum gases: $1.9 billion (up 31.4%)
4. Electrical energy: $1 billion (up 26.2%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $753.7 million (up 112.9%)
6. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $258.4 million (down -27.1%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $219.5 million (up 210.6%)
8. Petroleum oil residues: $196.7 million (up 40%)
9. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $10 million (up 4.6%)
10. Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $6.2 million (down -55.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Swedish purchases of coke and semi-coke (up 210.6%), coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 112.9%), then processed petroleum oils (up 60.6%) 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 imported fossil fuel-related products among Swedish businesses and consumers.

Sweden’s Major Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2022, Swedish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$4.7 billion (down -8.4% from 2021)
2. Machinery parts: $1.3 billion (up 7.4%)
3. Piston engine parts: $1.1 billion (down -7.8%)
4. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $974.9 million (down -5.4%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $946.2 million (up 1.2%)
6. Refrigerators, freezers: $884.5 million (up 1.7%)
7. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $878.6 million (down -1.9%)
8. Liquid pumps and elevators: $860.2 million (down -6%)
9. Air or vacuum pumps: $832.2 million (down -8.8%)
10. Miscellaneous machinery: $782.1 million (down -8.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Swedish purchases of machinery parts (up 7.4%), refrigerators and freezers (up 1.7%), then taps, valves and similar appliances (up 1.2%) grew from 2021 to 2022.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Swedish businesses and consumers.

Sweden’s Major Electrical Product Imports

In 2022, Swedish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$6.9 billion (down -4% from 2021)
2. Insulated wire/cable: $1.41 billion (down -7%)
3. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.37 billion (down -15.2%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $1.3 billion (up 13.2%)
5. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $1.21 billion (up 45%)
6. Electric storage batteries: $1.17 billion (up 10.4%)
7. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $962.9 million (down -3.2%)
8. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $820.8 million (up 5.5%)
9. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $810.4 million (down -9.6%)
10. Microphones/headphones/amps: $731.9 million (down -6.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Swedish purchases of integrated circuits and microassemblies (up 45%), electrical converters or power units (up 13.2%), then electric storage batteries (up 10.4%) 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 imported electronics among Swedish businesses and consumers.

Sweden’s Major Automotive Product Imports

In 2022, Swedish importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles-related products.

1. Cars: US$9.7 billion (down -3.4% from 2021)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $5.8 billion (down -3.9%)
3. Trucks: $1.5 billion (up 6.9%)
4. Trailers: $607.2 million (up 9.9%)
5. Tractors: $412.3 million (up 11.6%)
6. Public-transport vehicles: $326.8 million (up 61.7%)
7. Motorcycles: $271.8 million (down -4.7%)
8. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $198.8 million (up 8.8%)
9. Special purpose vehicles: $150.9 million (up 13.8%)
10. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $123.7 million (up 13.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Swedish purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 61.7%), special purpose vehicles (up 13.8%) then bicycles plus other non-motorized cycles (up 13.3%) 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 imported vehicle-related products among Swedish businesses and consumers.
 

See also Sweden’s Top 10 Exports, Sweden’s Top 10 Imports, Sweden’s Top Trading Partners and European Union’s Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on April 14, 2023

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on April 14, 2023

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on April 14, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 14, 2023

Wikipedia, Sweden. Accessed on April 14, 2023