56 • OHUTLEVY 2026 www.ohutlevy.com FIG. 27. Total turnover of Estonian manufacturing industry is 6 billion € with the total employment of 24,640. The average Estonian manufacturing company in the metals and machine sector has 108 employees with a typical turnover only 5.8 million €. Only 54 companies reached 20 million € turnovers. For comparison the Finnish Technology Industry reports over 180,000 employees and total total turnover of • Looking ahead, there are encouraging signs that companies have been able to sustain employment and wage growth. While demand has been subdued, some sectors are already showing signs of recovery, and the adjustment process is underway. Companies keep investing and growing, only 9% report decline while the average sectoral growth is 7%, measured in production terms, which is higher than EU average. Competitivity (74%), labour availability (54%) and maintaining company liquidity (37%) are seen as the main risks for future in the TOP3 survey. Industry investment Raul Kirsimäe also presented an analysis of Estonian companies. What factors typically affect the investments in metals industry? What is the motivation for investments across the different types of small and large companies. Companies were rated according to their EBITDA performance. In a typical high-EBITDA (>15%) company, investment priority is as follows: • Investment priority on digitalization and automation, • General priority on efficiency and growth ie competition, • Collaboration with universitites, research institutions and vocational schools. Driving innovation and competitiveness in metal and machinery industry, Gustav Kotkas, Project manager, Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry, Eesti Masinatööstuse Liit, FIG. 28. Main motivations for investments in Estonian metal and machine industry. FIG. 29. According to Kirsimäe Estonia offers a competitive platform for production, subcontracting and long-term investment. EML is the largest industry federation. In many occasions Gustav Kotkas pointed out the importance of the Federation for enterprise growth and company transformation towards digital economy, automation and robotization. EML has the principal domestic responsibility to mediate between public sector and industry, for example education, schools, vocational schools, industrial apprentice, engineering in academia, universities and research institutions. EML has 2200 members in engineering and metalworking industry. Over 80% of Estonian metal industry production is exported. Finland, Sweden, Germany, Lithuania and Latvia being the main export destinations. Estonian business culture is open, agile and straightforward. Industry is mostly small-series, high-complexity builds in relatively small units. Product development is mostly built in production. Company-owned technology centers are still few. EML function is to promote agile from design-to-delivery partnerships. According to Gustav Kotkas, the industry problems are very similar in
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