More trade with Poland than with other new EU countries

Of the ten countries to join the European Union on 1 May 2004, Poland is by far the most important trading partner for the Netherlands. In the period January to November 2003, the Netherlands exported 2.4 billion euro worth of goods to Poland, more than 5 percent less than in the same period in 2002. Dutch imports from Poland rose by nearly 2 percent to 1.5 billion euro.

Trade with Poland

Trade with Poland

Exports down after years of growth

Dutch goods exports to Poland have risen strongly in recent years. Between 1996 and 2002 the export value more than doubled from 1.2 billion to 2.8 billion.

In the first eleven months of 2003 on the other hand, exports fell by more than 5 percent. This pushes Poland down from twelfth to fourteenth most important export market for the Netherlands.

Computers main export product

Just over 10 percent of Dutch exports to Poland are computers and computer parts. These goods are not produced in the Netherlands, but imported and re-exported. In addition, to computers, the main exports comprise pharmaceutical products, yarns and fabrics, cars and electrical appliances. These products account for 36 percent of Dutch exports to Poland.

More exports to eastern Europe

After Russia, Poland is the Netherlands’ main trading partner in eastern Europe. In the first eleven months of 2003 the Netherlands exported 10.3 billion euro worth of goods to eastern Europe (+6 percent). However, Poland’s share in exports to eastern Europe is smaller than in the first eleven months of 2002. The shares of Russia and Hungary increased slightly in this period.

Imports up slightly

Imports from Poland more than doubled in the period 1996-2002. The figures for January to November 2003 show an increase of nearly 2 percent.

Furniture accounts for just over 9 percent of Dutch imports from Poland. Other main import products are electrical appliances, clothing, metal products and TV sets. Together these products account for nearly 50 percent of imports from Poland.

Balance of trade with Poland

Balance of trade with Poland

Balance of trade one billion euro

The Netherlands has had a surplus of around one billion euro on its balance of trade with Poland in recent years. In the first eleven months of 2003 the surplus was just over 0.9 billion euro.

Wiel Packbier

Source: StatLine