Enterprises; sourcing abroad, motives and barriers

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Factors Importance of factors Enterprises; sourced or concidered (number)
Total motives Total 275
Important or very important 270
Very important 200
Important 245
Not important 190
Not applicable/ Do not know 170
Reduction of labour costs Total 275
Important or very important 225
Very important 145
Important 80
Not important 25
Not applicable/ Do not know 25
Other cost savings Total 275
Important or very important 195
Very important 65
Important 135
Not important 40
Not applicable/ Do not know 40
Access to new markets Total 275
Important or very important 130
Very important 50
Important 75
Not important 65
Not applicable/ Do not know 80
Lack of labour in The Netherlands Total 275
Important or very important 140
Very important 25
Important 115
Not important 80
Not applicable/ Do not know 60
Access to knowledge/technologies Total 275
Important or very important 70
Very important 20
Important 50
Not important 120
Not applicable/ Do not know 85
Improved quality Total 275
Important or very important 80
Very important 15
Important 65
Not important 110
Not applicable/ Do not know 85
Focus on core business Total 275
Important or very important 135
Very important 40
Important 95
Not important 80
Not applicable/ Do not know 60
Reduced delivery times Total 275
Important or very important 120
Very important 20
Important 100
Not important 90
Not applicable/ Do not know 65
Decisions taken by the parent company Total 275
Important or very important 180
Very important 70
Important 110
Not important 40
Not applicable/ Do not know 55
More favourable conditions abroad Total 275
Important or very important 130
Very important 30
Important 100
Not important 80
Not applicable/ Do not know 70
COVID-19 related effects Total 275
Important or very important 20
Very important 0
Important 20
Not important 145
Not applicable/ Do not know 110
Sanctions on Russia Total 275
Important or very important 25
Very important 5
Important 20
Not important 130
Not applicable/ Do not know 120
Evironmental policy related factors Total 275
Important or very important 40
Very important 25
Important 15
Not important 110
Not applicable/ Do not know 130
Total barriers Total 275
Important or very important 225
Very important 85
Important 215
Not important 215
Not applicable/ Do not know 155
Legal or administrative barriers Total 275
Important or very important 95
Very important 45
Important 50
Not important 110
Not applicable/ Do not know 70
Tax issues Total 275
Important or very important 70
Very important 15
Important 55
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains figures on market‑oriented active enterprises in the Netherlands within the branches of manufacturing and energy, and commercial services, that during the reference period sourced business functions abroad or considered doing so. The table covers the motives and barriers that played a role in the decision or consideration to source activities abroad, and the degree of importance of these factors. It focuses on larger enterprises with an average of at least 50 employed persons in the latest reference year. Dormant (non‑active) units and enterprises that have completely left the Netherlands are excluded. The figures cover all enterprises that were active for at least part of the reference period and that remained active at the end of that period. The distribution of enterprises is shown by branch (SIC 2008), by motive or barrier, and by the importance of the factors.

Data available from: 2021-2023

Status of the figures:
The figures for 2021-2023 are provisional, pending comparison with the next reference period.

Changes as of 27 February 2026:
None, this is a new table.

When will new figures be published?
By the end of 2028 at the latest, the figures for 2024-2026 will be published. The figures for 2021-2023 will then become final.

Description topics

Enterprises; sourced or concidered
Number of market-oriented active enterprises within the branches of manufacturing and energy, and commercial services, with at least 50 employed persons, that have sourced or considered sourcing business functions abroad during the reference period.

Enterprise: The actual transactor in the production process characterized by independence with respect to decisions about that process and by offering its products to third parties. When this extends across different countries, for the purpose of national statistics the Dutch part is regarded as a single enterprise.

The population consists of active enterprises in the Netherlands recorded in the business register. Dormant (inactive) units and enterprises that have completely left the Netherlands are excluded. The figures cover all enterprises that were active for at least part of the reference period and that remained active at the end of that period.