Enterprises; sourcing abroad, motives and barriers

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Industry/Branches (SIC 2008) Factors Importance of factors Enterprises; sourced or concidered (number)
M Other specialised business services Other cost savings Total 100
Important or very important 50
Very important 5
Important 45
Not important 20
Not applicable/ Do not know 30
Lack of labour in The Netherlands Total 100
Important or very important 45
Very important 10
Important 35
Not important 20
Not applicable/ Do not know 30
Decisions taken by the parent company Total 100
Important or very important 60
Very important 30
Important 30
Not important 15
Not applicable/ Do not know 20
N Renting and other business support Other cost savings Total 35
Important or very important 20
Very important 10
Important 10
Not important 5
Not applicable/ Do not know 10
Lack of labour in The Netherlands Total 35
Important or very important 10
Very important 5
Important 5
Not important 10
Not applicable/ Do not know 15
Decisions taken by the parent company Total 35
Important or very important 15
Very important 5
Important 10
Not important 5
Not applicable/ Do not know 15
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.