Enterprises; sourcing abroad, motives and barriers

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Industry/Branches (SIC 2008) Factors Importance of factors Enterprises; sourced or concidered (number)
B-N Business economy Access to new markets Total 815
Important or very important 335
Very important 145
Important 190
Not important 205
Not applicable/ Do not know 280
Access to knowledge/technologies Total 815
Important or very important 265
Very important 55
Important 210
Not important 245
Not applicable/ Do not know 310
Limited access to financing Total 815
Important or very important 95
Very important 10
Important 85
Not important 345
Not applicable/ Do not know 380
B-F Manufacturing and energy 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
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
Limited access to financing Total 275
Important or very important 40
Very important 5
Important 30
Not important 165
Not applicable/ Do not know 70
G-N Commercial services Access to new markets Total 540
Important or very important 205
Very important 95
Important 110
Not important 135
Not applicable/ Do not know 195
Access to knowledge/technologies Total 540
Important or very important 195
Very important 40
Important 155
Not important 125
Not applicable/ Do not know 220
Limited access to financing Total 540
Important or very important 55
Very important 0
Important 55
Not important 180
Not applicable/ Do not know 305
B Mining and quarrying Access to new markets Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Access to knowledge/technologies Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Limited access to financing Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
C Manufacturing Access to new markets Total 255
Important or very important 115
Very important 45
Important 70
Not important 60
Not applicable/ Do not know 75
Access to knowledge/technologies Total 255
Important or very important 60
Very important 15
Important 50
Not important 110
Not applicable/ Do not know 80
Limited access to financing Total 255
Important or very important 35
Very important 5
Important 30
Not important 155
Not applicable/ Do not know 70
D Energy supply Access to new markets Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Access to knowledge/technologies Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
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.