The world’s seventh wealthiest nation by Gross Domestic Product per capita, the Kingdom of Norway imported US$81.3 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -5.4% decrease from $85.9 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Norway’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Located in Northern Europe, Norway shares Europe’s biggest peninsula called the Scandinavian Peninsula with Sweden, Finland plus a small part of northwestern Russia.

Data in this research is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Norwegian imports during 2020 for each of Norway’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for almost two-thirds (65.5%) of total Norwegian import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Norwegian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Norway’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Norway amounted to $9.8 billion or 12.1% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 12.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.3% of Norway’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $2.7 billion
Machinery: $2 billion
Vehicles: $676.1 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $563.5 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $550.5 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $388.8 million
Toys, games: $325.1 million
Iron or steel products: $312.2 million
Plastics: $234.4 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $212.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $209.8 million
Ships, boats: $192.7 million
Footwear: $177.5 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $119.2 million
Rubber: $74.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from China under the vehicles product category via a 170.6% gain in revenue, miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (up 86%), ships and boats (up 67.2%), plastics as a material (up 16.9%), toys and games (up 14.8%) and machinery (up 11%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were footwear (down -10.9%) then articles made from leather or animal gut (down -5.5%).

Norway’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Norway amounted to $9.3 billion or 11.5% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 0.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the major product categories listed below represent 81.8% of Norway’s imports from Germany.

Vehicles: $2.9 billion
Machinery: $1.5 billion
Electronic equipment: $685.4 million
Pharmaceuticals: $570.8 million
Plastics: $357.3 million
Iron or steel products: $348.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $317.9 million
Other chemical goods: $147.3 million
Ships, boats: $141.2 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $119.8 million
Copper including items made from copper: $103.4 million
Paper: $99 million
Rubber: $98.5 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $87.1 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $83.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from Germany under the ships and boats product category via a 891.2% gain in revenue, animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 79.9%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 14.6%) and pharmaceuticals (up 9.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -22.1%), copper including items made from copper (down -13.3%) then furniture, lighting and signs (down -10.5%).

Norway’s Main Imports from Sweden

In 2020, Sweden’s exports to Norway amounted to $8.7 billion or 10.7% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.3% of Norway’s imports from Sweden.

Machinery: $989 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $909.5 million
Vehicles: $898.6 million
Wood: $613.9 million
Plastics: $508.5 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $469.8 million
Paper: $417.9 million
Electronic equipment: $407.8 million
Iron or steel products: $390.4 million
Tobacco: $268.7 million
Iron and steel: $200.6 million
Aluminum: $158.8 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $141.9 million
Copper including items made from copper: $132.8 million
Other chemical goods: $128.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from Sweden under the tobacco product category via a 21.5% gain in revenue, copper including items made from copper (up 20.1%) and aluminum (up 15.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -46.2%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -41.3%), vehicles (down -31.1%) and machinery (down -11%).

Norway’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Norway amounted to $5.5 billion or 6.8% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -18.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.6% of Norway’s imports from America.

Machinery: $911.8 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $744.6 million
Vehicles: $664.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $620.8 million
Electronic equipment: $430.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $423.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $271.9 million
Organic chemicals: $230 million
Other chemical goods: $197.8 million
Iron or steel products: $114.9 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $97.8 million
Plastics: $89.6 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $82.8 million
Arms, ammunition: $58.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $58.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from United States under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 89.5% gain in revenue, arms including ammunition (up 88.6%), inorganic chemicals (up 36.1%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 31.8%), pharmaceuticals (up 17.4%) then perfumes and cosmetics (up 14.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -44.9%), mineral fuels including oil (down -39.4%), machinery (down -21.1%), electronic equipment (down -19.6%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -19.4%) and organic chemicals (down -9.3%).

Norway’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Norway amounted to $4.4 billion or 6.8% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 3.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.6% of Norway’s imports from the United Kingdom.

Machinery: $1.1 billion
Vehicles: $405 million
Iron or steel products: $327.1 million
Electronic equipment: $279.2 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $266.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $247.2 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $205.2 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $179.3 million
Fish: $141.8 million
Pharmaceuticals: $129.3 million
Plastics: $125.2 million
Other chemical goods: $86.2 million
Iron and steel: $52.9 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $52.8 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $49.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from the United Kingdom under the food waste or animal fodder product category via a 112.1% gain in revenue, aircraft and spacecraft (up 32.9%), items made from iron or steel (up 24.2%), machinery (up 21.6%), fish (up 20%) then soaps, lubricants and candles (up 18.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -36.5%), medical or technical equipment (down -27.6%) and vehicles (down -23.5%).

Norway’s Main Imports from Denmark

In 2020, Denmark’s exports to Norway amounted to $4.4 billion or 5.4% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 73.4% of Norway’s imports from Denmark.

Machinery: $625.9 million
Electronic equipment: $453.6 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $357.6 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $289.6 million
Iron or steel products: $262.4 million
Pharmaceuticals: $230.6 million
Plastics: $180.7 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $168.8 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $154.5 million
Vehicles: $108.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $107.9 million
Aluminum: $79.9 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $78.5 million
Sugar: $73.8 million
Paper: $63.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from Denmark under the soaps, lubricants and candles product category via a 43.6% gain in revenue, animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 36.5%), machinery (up 12.4%), aluminum (up 11.1%), sugar (up 10.5%) and paper (up 10.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were electronic equipment (down -42.7%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -33.4%).

Norway’s Main Imports from Poland

In 2020, Poland’s exports to Norway amounted to $3 billion or 3.7% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 80.4% of Norway’s imports from Poland.

Machinery: $335.5 million
Vehicles: $332.9 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $289.2 million
Iron or steel products: $280.2 million
Electronic equipment: $271.9 million
Ships, boats: $180.4 million
Wood: $134.1 million
Plastics: $126.5 million
Tobacco: $111 million
Glass: $89.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $82.3 million
Railway, tram equipment: $64.8 million
Aluminum: $55.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $42.3 million
Paper: $38.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from Poland under the tobacco product category via a 59% gain in revenue, plastics as a material (up 18.8%) and paper (up 11.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were electronic equipment (down -38%), railway or tram equipment (down -29.8%), vehicles (down -25.3%), aluminum (down -23.1%), mineral fuels including oil (down -20.6%) and items made from iron or steel products (down -13.4%).

Norway’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Norway amounted to $2.8 billion or 3.4% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 68.1% of Norway’s imports from the Netherlands.

Machinery: $324.8 million
Electronic equipment: $232.6 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $224.2 million
Vehicles: $143.9 million
Plastics: $118 million
Live trees and plants: $111.4 million
Beverages: $106.6 million
Iron or steel products: $105.6 million
Other chemical goods: $99.2 million
Vegetables: $92.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $71.5 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $70.6 million
Other food preparations: $70.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $66.4 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $55.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from the Netherlands under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 29.6% gain in revenue, food waste or animal fodder (up 27.7%), beverages (up 24.4%) and miscellaneous food preparations (up 9.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were miscellaneous chemical goods (down -46.8%), mineral fuels including oil (down -42.6%), vehicles (down -35.2%), electronic equipment (down -26.9%), machinery (down -23.1%) and items made from iron or steel (down -20.7%).

Norway’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Norway amounted to $2.5 billion or 3.1% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 80% of Norway’s imports from France.

Vehicles: $449.4 million
Machinery: $380.3 million
Beverages: $202.6 million
Electronic equipment: $197.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $152.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $116.5 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $90.7 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $77.4 million
Plastics: $66.7 million
Milling products: $66 million
Iron or steel products: $64.5 million
Other chemical goods: $49.2 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $45.9 million
Rubber: $39.5 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $39.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from France under the medical or technical equipment product category via a 35.9% gain in revenue, beverages (up 12.1%) and cereal or milk preparations (up 9.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -40.1%), items made from iron or steel (down -36.2%), milling products (down -30.2%), machinery (down -21.1%), rubber (down -18%) and vehicles (down -15.5%).

Norway’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Norway amounted to $2.4 billion or 3% of overall Norwegian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.4% of Norway’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $632.8 million
Iron or steel products: $189.1 million
Vehicles: $187.9 million
Beverages: $172.2 million
Electronic equipment: $158.9 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $109.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $91.6 million
Plastics: $79.8 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $63.8 million
Fruits, nuts: $59.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $46.8 million
Footwear: $44.1 million
Ceramic products: $42.5 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $34.6 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $33.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Norwegian imports from Italy under the cereal or milk preparations product category via a 18.2% gain in revenue, beverages (up 14%), vegetable or fruit preparations (up 13.7%) and electronic equipment (up 10.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Norway’s top 15 imported products were furniture, lighting and signs (down -13.8%), items made from iron or steel (down -13.7%), machinery (down -13.2%), vehicles (down -12.1%), footwear (down -11.3%) and unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -10.9%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Richest Countries by GDP per Capita.

Wikipedia, Norway, Borders of Norway.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Norway’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries