External trade in ICT goods (discontinued), 2002-2008

In 2008, exports of ICT goods had a robust growth of 18 per cent and amounted to NOK 18 billion. Total exports (all commodities excluding ships, oil platforms, crude oil, natural gas and condensates) grew at a much slower rate than ICT exports¹, only seven per cent. As a result, the share of ICT goods in total exports rose to five per cent. Norway’s ICT imports remained relatively steady at NOK 39.2 billion. For first time since 2002, ICT imports have declined, albeit slightly, by 1.8 per cent from the previous year. By contrast, total imports (all commodities excluding ships and oil platforms) increased by five per cent. Consequently, ICT imports’ share of total imports fell to eight per cent; the lowest since 2002.

Throughout 2002-2008, total exports and imports had the same growth rate of 80 per cent. Within the same period, ICT imports grew faster than exports: 67 and 41 per cent respectively.

NOK 12.9 billion on computer imports

Most ICT imports in 2008 were Computers and related equipment (NOK 12.9 billion), which accounted for 33 per cent of all ICT imports (see “About the statistics” for supplementary information). The highest exports are registered in Other ICT goods and Telecommunication , NOK 6.3 and 5.3 billion respectively. Other ICT goods comprise, among other things, navigational and measuring instruments.

Improvement in ICT trade balance

Norway has always had an excess of ICT imports over exports, but in 2008 the trade deficit in ICT products reached its lowest point since 2004. The group with the largest trade deficit in 2008 was Computers and related equipment . There was, however, a trade surplus in Other ICT goods and Electronic components . A move to a surplus in the latter group was registered for the first time since 2002 and is largely the result of a 41 per cent increase in exports from 2007 to 2008.

Increased ICT exports from Northern Norway

When ICT goods are shipped, the county of origin is registered for exports and the customhouse for imports. Based on these register data, exports and imports of ICT goods are distributed by region. Total ICT exports from the counties Østfold, Buskerud, Vestfold and Telemark were worth NOK 5.4 billion, which was more than NOK 745 million higher than exports from Oslo and Akershus combined. Exports of ICT goods from Nordland, Troms and Finnmark registered the highest growth, from NOK 815 million to NOK 2 billion.

Tables:

• Table 1 Exports and imports of ICT goods. 2002-2008. NOK million
• Table 2 Exports and imports of ICT goods as a proportion of total external trade. 2002-2008. NOK million
• Table 3 Exports and imports of ICT goods and traditional commodities. 2002=100
• Table 4 Imports of ICT goods by part of the country. 2006-2008. NOK million
• Table 5 Exports of ICT goods by part of the country. 2006-2008. NOK million