The many facets of Latvian exports

Over the past few years, Latvia’s exports have become geographically more widespread and technologically more diverse.

When we think about Latvian exports, the first things that come to mind are timber, food, and transit. And indeed, timber and wood products remain Latvia’s largest export category, accounting for more than 15% of the total volume. However, behind this well-known image lies a much broader story. While traditional industries have not disappeared, thriving sectors such as electronics, professional services, robotics, energy technologies, biomedicine, and dual-use technologies are growing alongside them. Latvia is producing wireless communication equipment, wind turbine maintenance robots, fibreglass materials that can withstand temperatures of over 1000 degrees Celsius, and drone technologies, in which Latvia is among the most prominent players in Europe.

Latvia’s true superpower in the context of the Baltics is its diversity. Lithuania boasts a larger scale of manufacturing, and Estonia excels in digital services and rapidly growing technology companies. Latvia, however, combines traditional industry with specialised expertise in electronics, pharmaceuticals, materials science, mechanical engineering, and energy. It competes on its ability to create complex products tailored to specific customers.

The surge in high-value-added exports took hold in the 2010s, building on much older traditions in science and industry. Increasingly, it’s not just tonnes and cubic metres that are being exported, but knowledge, algorithms, technologies, and intellectual property. It’s possible that technology developed in Latvia has already transmitted your data, helped inspect a wind turbine, or improved the safety of an electric car. These products rarely end up on store shelves – they operate in communication networks, factories, and the energy sector. For example, Aerones manufactures robotic systems for inspecting, cleaning, and repairing wind turbines. The company’s clients account for more than half of the world’s installed wind power capacity. This is an example of how Latvian engineering addresses a specific issue in a global industry.

This transformation did not happen overnight. Following the contraction of Eastern markets, Latvian exporters shifted their focus to the European Union, the Nordic countries, the United Kingdom, and more distant markets. The pandemic, in turn, accelerated the export of digital and professional services, which have grown by approximately 69% since 2020. After 2022, demand for security, communications, and dual-use technologies have grown even more rapidly. In 2025, Latvia’s exports of goods and services reached 28.1 billion euros. In terms of the share of high-tech goods, Latvia ranks among the leaders in the Baltic region.

‘Latvian companies have the know-how and the globally competitive products, but a good product alone isn’t enough – you have to find the right market and reach the people who make the decisions,’ emphasises Ieva Jāgere, the director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). And that’s exactly where LIAA comes in, in helping companies assess markets, find partners, and move from initial contact to actual collaboration.

Professional electronics and communications technologies

SAF Tehnika, which is based in Riga, manufactures wireless data transmission equipment for telecommunications operators, businesses, and critical infrastructure facilities. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, SAF Tehnika exported 97% of its production and sold it in 87 countries. This demonstrates that it is possible to develop, manufacture, and certify complex electronics in Latvia for the global professional market.

Fibreglass and technical materials

Valmieras Stikla Šķiedra (Valmiera Glass) is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of fibreglass and exports more than 95% of its production. Some of its materials can withstand temperatures of more than 1000 degrees Celsius.

Cryogenic insulation materials developed by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry protects the fuel tanks of Europe’s Ariane 6 launcher. It must remain stable at temperatures as low as –253°C while withstanding the vibration and forces of a rocket launch.

Drones and dual-use technologies

According to industry data published by LIAA, Latvia ranks seventh in Europe in terms of drone export volume. More than 20 active companies operate in the fields of military technology, drones, and robotics. Unmanned aircraft produced by Edge Autonomy in Riga have been used at Fukushima in Japan to monitor radiation levels.

Pharmaceuticals and biomedicine

Latvia has long-standing expertise in organic synthesis, the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and drug manufacturing. For example, the Grindeks Group exports to 108 countries, and exports account for 94.7% of the company’s revenue. The company manufactures finished drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Meanwhile, a new generation of companies is combining pharmaceutical expertise with data technologies and new materials. Among them, Longenesis is developing solutions for the secure use of health data in clinical trials, while PrintyMed is developing a lab-grown material with properties similar to spider silk.

Materials for hydrogen technology

Naco Technologies is tackling one of green hydrogen’s most expensive problems. The company develops ultra-thin protective coatings for components in hydrogen electrolysers and fuel cells. These coatings help protect the equipment from corrosion, extend its service life, and reduce the need for large quantities of costly precious metals. This is a typical example of a high-value-added export from Latvia: a small amount of material can significantly impact the operation of much larger energy systems.

Words by Liene Pālēna

Photo courtesy of SAF Tehnika

This article was produced in collaboration with Aibaltic’s in-flight magazine, “Baltic Outlook”.