Enterprises; sourcing abroad, motives and barriers

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Factors Importance of factors Enterprises; sourced or concidered (number)
Total motives Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Reduction of labour costs Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Other cost savings Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Access to new markets Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Lack of labour in The Netherlands 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 .
Improved quality Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Focus on core business Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Reduced delivery times Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Decisions taken by the parent company Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
More favourable conditions abroad Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
COVID-19 related effects Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Sanctions on Russia Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Evironmental policy related factors Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Total barriers Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Legal or administrative barriers Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Tax issues 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.