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Published: 19 November 2013

Direct natural resource inputs decreased by 2 per cent

In 2012, direct inputs used by the national economy totalled around 240 million tonnes, of which domestic inputs made up 185 million tonnes. The biggest domestic natural resource inputs are ore, gravel and sand, and wood and plants. Plants and wild animals accounted for around five per cent of domestic inputs, i.e. ten million tonnes. Over the past decades, the use of domestic natural resources has been at its lowest during the 1990s recession, in 1993 around 140 million tonnes.

Total material requirement by material groups 1970–2012

In 2012, Finland's national economy used altogether 560 million tonnes of natural resources. Of this amount, around 245 million tonnes remained abroad as hidden flows and about 75 million tonnes were extracted, but unused in the home country. Unused natural resources in the home country come particularly from mining and quarrying, transfer of soil materials and felling. The amount of hidden flows and unused natural resources is bigger than that of inputs.

In 2012, the biggest changes in domestic inputs from the year before were decreases in peat extraction and increases in mining of metal ores. Direct inputs of imported processed products diminished by nearly five per cent, but their hidden flows grew by almost four per cent. This was occasioned by growing imports of ores and electrical equipment. Large hidden flows from abroad are connected to them.

Statistics Finland started publishing the Economy-wide material flow accounts in 2011. The statistics are part of environmental accounts, on which the European Union passed a Regulation in 2011 and the UN gave an international recommendation last year.

Material intensity of Finland's economy 1970-2012

Source: Economy-wide material flow accounts 2012, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Simo Vahvelainen 09 1734 3457, Leo Kolttola 09 1734 3234, Jukka Muukkonen 09 1734 3224, environmental.accounts@stat.fi

Director in charge: Leena Storgårds

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Total material requirement by material groups 2001 - 2012 (19.11.2013)

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Updated 19.11.2013