Increased trade with the UK in 2016

In 2016, Dutch goods exports to the United Kingdom amounted to 39.4 billion euros, a 3.4 percent increase relative to the previous year. Goods imports from the UK rose by 2.0 percent to a total of 21.7 billion euros. Recent figures on exports to the UK released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show a marginally higher growth rate in exports in the latter half of 2016.

Dutch exports to the United Kingdom have grown steadily, from almost 30 billion euros in 2010 to almost 40 billion euros in 2016. Last year’s share of Dutch exports to the UK in total Dutch exports stood at 9 percent, i.e. one percentage point up from 2010. The value of Dutch goods exports to other EU member states fell by more than 3 percentage points over the same period. In 2016, the share of imports from the UK in total imports declined relative to 2010.

Fewer EU exports to the UK

In the latter half of 2016, the value of EU exports to the UK decreased by more than 3.5 billion euros (nearly 3 percent) year-on-year. This was mainly related to a decline in UK imports of German cars. The share of Dutch exports saw the highest increase (nearly 4 percent) among the UK’s ten largest EU trading partners; Spain’s exports to the UK grew as well. Other countries saw their exports to the UK decline.

Ten EU trading partners with largest changes in trade with the UK, July-November 2016
 Export value
Netherlands589
Spain225
Slovakia166
Denmark102
Hungary54
Ireland-189
Czech Republic-276
Sweden-612
France-731
Germany-2855

The new Internationalisation Monitor, a quarterly publication commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is released today. This edition focuses on economic relations between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

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