Exports show further growth in December

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Ries van Wendel de Joode
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that the volume of goods exported in December 2016 was 6.1 percent higher than in December 2015. Again, growth was somewhat above the level of the previous month. In December, exports of chemical products, machinery and natural gas rose noticeably. Exports of Dutch products and re-exports were higher than one year previously. The volume of imports was 2.7 percent up in December from December last year.

The CBS Exports Radar indicates that circumstances for exports are more favourable in February than in December, but slightly less favourable than in January.

Circumstances for Dutch exports considerably more favourable in February

According to the CBS Exports Radar, circumstances for Dutch exports are considerably more favourable in February than in December. Conditions are largely determined by recent developments on the major export markets for Dutch products and by the competitive position of the Netherlands.

In February’s Exports Radar, exchange rates have improved significantly. Opinions of Dutch and European manufacturers about their foreign orders and European and Dutch producer confidence were also more favourable than in December. Germany’s manufacturing industry, on the other hand, performed worse than in December.

Goods exports account for approximately three-quarters of total exports. CBS does not publish monthly data on exports of services. Data on total exports are published on a quarterly and annual basis. The data in this publication are provisional and can be subject to adjustments.