Africa increasingly important for Dutch exports

Over the period 2008-2014, the share of Dutch goods exported to Africa has grown from 2.6 to 3.3 percent. In 2014, the value of exports to Africa was more than 14.2 billion euros and exceeded the value of Dutch exports to Spain. African countries take up a prominent position among the most important emerging countries, as Statistics Netherlands announced today.

Export growth

The importance of Africa for Dutch exports of goods has grown in the past six years. Among the 20 most important emerging countries nine are situated in Africa. Togo, Ghana and Senegal are in the top 5. Last year, the value of exports to these three countries was nearly 2.8 billion euros, i.e. marginally above the value of Dutch exports to Brazil. At the same time, the importance of Togo, Ghana and Senegal for Dutch exports increased from 0.15 percent in 2008 to 0.64 percent in 2014.

Many petroleum products exported to Africa

Africa is a major exporter of crude oil, but due to the lack of refineries, crude oil shipped to other countries, including the Netherlands. Petroleum derivatives are subsequently reimported by African countries for domestic use. Togo, Ghana and Senegal are West African countries. The substantial export growth to these three countries goes together with a slump in the export of mineral fuels to Nigeria (also situated in West Africa) by 537 million euros (-24 percent).