Revival in international car trade

Provisional figures on 2004 signal a revival in international car trade. Approximately 567 thousand new cars were imported in 2004, a 1 percent increase on 2003. The figures also indicate that the export of new cars was reduced by more than 1 percent to 223 thousand.

In the past decade the international trade in new cars initially went up and subsequently declined. Until 2000 the trade in new cars was permanently expanding; the trade reached its peak level in 1999 when 718 thousand new cars were imported and 355 thousand new cars were exported. In the period 2000-2003 car trade declined.

Trade in new cars

Trade in new cars

Car trade perks up again

In the first eleven months of 2004 the import of new cars grew by nearly 3 thousand to more than 515 thousand. Export also picked up, although it decreased by 9 thousand in the same period. In 2003 the export of new cars was almost 86 thousand down on 2004. In the first eleven months of 2004 approximately 202 thousand cars were exported.

Far more cars imported than exported

In the first eleven months of 2004 the import of new cars was 1 percent up on 2003. More than 515 thousand new cars were imported worth 6.7 billion euro. The import value of a new car averaged 12,900 euro compared to 12,100 euro in the same period of 2003.

The export of new cars fell by 4 percent to nearly 202 thousand in the first eleven months of 2004. The average export value was 12,400 euro, the same as one year previously.

Belgium main supplier of cars

Roughly 90 percent of the trade in new cars is effectuated between member states of the European Union. Belgium is the main supplier of cars for the Netherlands. One third of all cars imported come from Belgium. Part of the cars imported from Belgium are Italian cars. Germany is runner-up, accounting for almost 25 percent, France and Spain both account for 10 percent.

Main import countries of cars, January-November

Main import countries of cars, January-November

Germany main export country

Most cars are exported to Germany. The country accounts for 30 percent of total export of new cars from the Netherlands. With 13 percent, the United Kingdom is in second place, followed by Belgium with 10 percent.

Swedish-made cars most expensive

The average import value of cars manufactured in Sweden was almost 31 thousand euro in the first months of 2004. This means that the most expensive cars come from Sweden. The average import price of cars from Italy was over 27 thousand euro; also well above the EU average of 14 thousand euro.

Wiel Packbier