Exports nearly 400 times higher than in 1917

06/04/2018 15:00

Over the past 100 years, the Netherlands’ external trade has grown explosively. One century ago, Dutch goods imports had a total value of 968 million guilders (440 million euros). The value of exports came to 821 million guilders (373 million euros). Last year, the value of imports stood at 411 billion euros while exports were worth 469 billion euros. After adjusting for inflation, imports had increased in value 228 times whilst the value of exports was 384 times as high. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on the occasion of 100 years international trade statistics and the release of the latest edition of the Internationalisation Monitor.

English subtitles available

Volume index of Dutch imports and exports
	Imports (1917=1)	Exports (1917=1)
1917	1.0	1.0
1927	3.2	3.3
1937	5.0	5.4
1947	4.0	2.3
1957	10.5	12.5
1967	22.2	28.9
1977	36.3	56.3
1987	48.6	80.9
1997	92.6	156.9
2007	177.1	297.9
2017	227.7	383.9

Volume index of Dutch imports and exports
	Imports (1917=1)	Exports (1917=1)
1917	1.0	1.0
1927	3.2	3.3
1937	5.0	5.4
1947	4.0	2.3
1957	10.5	12.5
1967	22.2	28.9
1977	36.3	56.3
1987	48.6	80.9
1997	92.6	156.9
2007	177.1	297.9
2017	227.7	383.9

Record trade surplus

For much of the 20th century, the Netherlands was structurally importing more than it exported. A persistent trade deficit reversed to an increasingly large trade surplus during the 1980s. By 2017, the trade surplus was higher than ever: 57 billion euros. Outside the EU, the Netherlands had a 52 billion euro deficit last year; within the EU, a surplus was generated to a value of 109 billion euros. A significant share of goods which are imported from overseas is re-exported to other EU countries. As a result, the past century has seen the Netherlands rise to the top ten largest exporting countries in the world.

Value of Dutch imports and exports
	Imports (bn euros)	Exports (bn euros)
1917	0.4	0.4
1918	0.3	0.2
1919	1.5	0.7
1920	1.5	0.8
1921	1.0	0.6
1922	0.9	0.6
1923	0.9	0.6
1924	1.1	0.8
1925	1.1	0.8
1926	1.1	0.8
1927	1.2	0.9
1928	1.2	0.9
1929	1.3	0.9
1930	1.1	0.8
1931	0.9	0.6
1932	0.6	0.4
1933	0.6	0.3
1934	0.5	0.3
1935	0.4	0.3
1936	0.5	0.4
1937	0.7	0.5
1938	0.7	0.5
1939	0.7	0.5
1940	0.5	0.3
1941	0.3	0.3
1942	0.2	0.3
1943	0.2	0.3
1944
1945
1946	1.0	0.4
1947	1.9	0.9
1948	2.3	1.2
1949	2.4	1.7
1950	3.5	2.4
1951	4.4	3.4
1952	3.8	3.6
1953	4.1	3.7
1954	4.9	4.2
1955	5.5	4.6
1956	6.4	4.9
1957	7.1	5.3
1958	6.3	5.5
1959	6.8	6.2
1960	7.8	6.9
1961	8.5	7.1
1962	8.8	7.5
1963	9.8	8.2
1964	11.6	9.5
1965	12.3	10.5
1966	13.2	11.1
1967	13.7	12.0
1968	15.3	13.7
1969	18.1	16.4
1970	22.1	19.3
1971	23.7	22.1
1972	24.8	24.5
1973	30.2	30.3
1974	39.9	39.9
1975	39.9	40.2
1976	47.3	48.1
1977	50.8	48.6
1978	51.9	49.1
1979	61.2	57.9
1980	69.1	66.7
1981	74.4	77.5
1982	75.9	80.2
1983	78.8	83.7
1984	90.2	95.6
1985	98.0	102.6
1986	84.0	89.5
1987	83.9	85.3
1988	88.9	92.5
1989	100.5	104.1
1990	104.2	108.5
1991	107.6	113.0
1992	107.4	111.9
1993	105.1	117.2
1994	116.4	130.4
1995	129.4	143.5
1996	139.9	153.8
1997	157.4	171.4
1998	168.4	180.7
1999	178.7	188.6
2000	216.1	231.9
2001	218.3	241.3
2002	205.6	232.7
2003	206.9	234.2
2004	228.2	255.7
2005	249.8	281.3
2006	285.4	319.0
2007	307.3	347.5
2008	335.9	370.5
2009	274.0	309.4
2010	331.9	371.5
2011	364.9	409.4
2012	389.4	429.7
2013	386.4	433.1
2014	382.4	433.4
2015	372.2	419.0
2016	372.7	425.0
2017	411.4	468.5

Value of Dutch imports and exports
	Imports (bn euros)	Exports (bn euros)
1917	0.4	0.4
1918	0.3	0.2
1919	1.5	0.7
1920	1.5	0.8
1921	1.0	0.6
1922	0.9	0.6
1923	0.9	0.6
1924	1.1	0.8
1925	1.1	0.8
1926	1.1	0.8
1927	1.2	0.9
1928	1.2	0.9
1929	1.3	0.9
1930	1.1	0.8
1931	0.9	0.6
1932	0.6	0.4
1933	0.6	0.3
1934	0.5	0.3
1935	0.4	0.3
1936	0.5	0.4
1937	0.7	0.5
1938	0.7	0.5
1939	0.7	0.5
1940	0.5	0.3
1941	0.3	0.3
1942	0.2	0.3
1943	0.2	0.3
1944
1945
1946	1.0	0.4
1947	1.9	0.9
1948	2.3	1.2
1949	2.4	1.7
1950	3.5	2.4
1951	4.4	3.4
1952	3.8	3.6
1953	4.1	3.7
1954	4.9	4.2
1955	5.5	4.6
1956	6.4	4.9
1957	7.1	5.3
1958	6.3	5.5
1959	6.8	6.2
1960	7.8	6.9
1961	8.5	7.1
1962	8.8	7.5
1963	9.8	8.2
1964	11.6	9.5
1965	12.3	10.5
1966	13.2	11.1
1967	13.7	12.0
1968	15.3	13.7
1969	18.1	16.4
1970	22.1	19.3
1971	23.7	22.1
1972	24.8	24.5
1973	30.2	30.3
1974	39.9	39.9
1975	39.9	40.2
1976	47.3	48.1
1977	50.8	48.6
1978	51.9	49.1
1979	61.2	57.9
1980	69.1	66.7
1981	74.4	77.5
1982	75.9	80.2
1983	78.8	83.7
1984	90.2	95.6
1985	98.0	102.6
1986	84.0	89.5
1987	83.9	85.3
1988	88.9	92.5
1989	100.5	104.1
1990	104.2	108.5
1991	107.6	113.0
1992	107.4	111.9
1993	105.1	117.2
1994	116.4	130.4
1995	129.4	143.5
1996	139.9	153.8
1997	157.4	171.4
1998	168.4	180.7
1999	178.7	188.6
2000	216.1	231.9
2001	218.3	241.3
2002	205.6	232.7
2003	206.9	234.2
2004	228.2	255.7
2005	249.8	281.3
2006	285.4	319.0
2007	307.3	347.5
2008	335.9	370.5
2009	274.0	309.4
2010	331.9	371.5
2011	364.9	409.4
2012	389.4	429.7
2013	386.4	433.1
2014	382.4	433.4
2015	372.2	419.0
2016	372.7	425.0
2017	411.4	468.5

Imports up due to more machinery and transport vehicles

Machinery and transport vehicles have represented a growing share in Dutch imports over the past one hundred years. In contrast to this growth was the declining importance of manufactured items such as iron and steel, metal (products), instruments and apparatus, clothing and footwear.

Share in import value
	Food, beverages and tobacco (%)	Raw materials, oils and fats (%)	Mineral fuels (%)	Chemical products (%)	Machinery, transport vehicles (%)	Manufactured goods (%)
1920	19.2	22.8	10.0	4.7	8.5	34.7
1925	29.2	25.1	7.0	4.8	5.9	28.0
1930	21.4	22.7	8.1	4.9	10.2	32.8
1937	18.4	26.7	6.6	5.1	9.3	33.9
1947	16.2	22.2	7.6	5.8	17.6	30.6
1957	14.1	16.5	16.9	4.9	18.6	29.1
1967	13.7	11.1	10.4	7.9	23.6	33.4
1977	13.7	7.9	18.4	8.0	21.2	30.9
1987	13.0	5.9	11.3	10.6	28.7	30.5
1997	10.7	5.2	8.1	12.0	35.8	28.3
2007	8.6	4.9	16.1	13.4	33.5	23.5
2017	11.1	4.8	16.1	12.8	31.5	23.7

Share in import value
	Food, beverages and tobacco (%)	Raw materials, oils and fats (%)	Mineral fuels (%)	Chemical products (%)	Machinery, transport vehicles (%)	Manufactured goods (%)
1920	19.2	22.8	10.0	4.7	8.5	34.7
1925	29.2	25.1	7.0	4.8	5.9	28.0
1930	21.4	22.7	8.1	4.9	10.2	32.8
1937	18.4	26.7	6.6	5.1	9.3	33.9
1947	16.2	22.2	7.6	5.8	17.6	30.6
1957	14.1	16.5	16.9	4.9	18.6	29.1
1967	13.7	11.1	10.4	7.9	23.6	33.4
1977	13.7	7.9	18.4	8.0	21.2	30.9
1987	13.0	5.9	11.3	10.6	28.7	30.5
1997	10.7	5.2	8.1	12.0	35.8	28.3
2007	8.6	4.9	16.1	13.4	33.5	23.5
2017	11.1	4.8	16.1	12.8	31.5	23.7

Currently, around 30 percent of all imported goods enter the production process. They are partly used in the production of consumer goods which are sold on the domestic and international markets; other goods which are imported by companies are used as capital goods. Approximately 8 percent of imported goods is for direct consumption while 6 percent is used by companies for investment. The remainder of imports leaves the country again as re-exports in virtually the same form as when they entered the Netherlands.

China and Japan

Just after the turn of the century, China overtook Japan as the largest supplier of goods from Asia. China was able to benefit fully from the relocation of production units to the country by Western companies. Almost at the same time, the growth in imports from Japan came to a standstill. Chinese exports to the Netherlands were pushed up mainly by increasing quantities of machinery and transport vehicles, exported to the European continent via the Netherlands.

Imports from China and Japan
	China (bn euros)	Japan (bn euros)
1967	0.0	0.1
1968	0.0	0.1
1969	0.0	0.2
1970	0.0	0.2
1971	0.1	0.3
1972	0.1	0.4
1973	0.1	0.4
1974	0.1	0.5
1975	0.1	0.6
1976	0.1	0.8
1977	0.1	1.0
1978	0.1	1.2
1979	0.1	1.2
1980	0.2	1.3
1981	0.3	1.5
1982	0.2	1.7
1983	0.2	1.6
1984	0.2	2.1
1985	0.3	2.4
1986	0.3	2.8
1987	0.3	2.9
1988	0.4	2.9
1989	0.5	3.0
1990	0.6	3.3
1991	0.9	3.9
1992	0.8	3.9
1993	1.2	4.0
1994	1.5	4.2
1995	1.6	4.6
1996	2.0	4.9
1997	2.7	5.8
1998	3.4	7.2
1999	3.7	7.6
2000	6.9	9.3
2001	8.8	8.7
2002	8.9	6.4
2003	10.6	6.5
2004	14.5	6.8
2005	19.1	6.1
2006	23.0	6.5
2007	26.3	7.2
2008	25.0	9.5
2009	22.0	7.3
2010	31.0	9.3
2011	30.9	10.1
2012	31.9	9.9
2013	31.8	8.4
2014	35.4	8.3
2015	32.4	7.1
2016	32.6	7.0
2017	36.1	7.7

Imports from China and Japan
	China (bn euros)	Japan (bn euros)
1967	0.0	0.1
1968	0.0	0.1
1969	0.0	0.2
1970	0.0	0.2
1971	0.1	0.3
1972	0.1	0.4
1973	0.1	0.4
1974	0.1	0.5
1975	0.1	0.6
1976	0.1	0.8
1977	0.1	1.0
1978	0.1	1.2
1979	0.1	1.2
1980	0.2	1.3
1981	0.3	1.5
1982	0.2	1.7
1983	0.2	1.6
1984	0.2	2.1
1985	0.3	2.4
1986	0.3	2.8
1987	0.3	2.9
1988	0.4	2.9
1989	0.5	3.0
1990	0.6	3.3
1991	0.9	3.9
1992	0.8	3.9
1993	1.2	4.0
1994	1.5	4.2
1995	1.6	4.6
1996	2.0	4.9
1997	2.7	5.8
1998	3.4	7.2
1999	3.7	7.6
2000	6.9	9.3
2001	8.8	8.7
2002	8.9	6.4
2003	10.6	6.5
2004	14.5	6.8
2005	19.1	6.1
2006	23.0	6.5
2007	26.3	7.2
2008	25.0	9.5
2009	22.0	7.3
2010	31.0	9.3
2011	30.9	10.1
2012	31.9	9.9
2013	31.8	8.4
2014	35.4	8.3
2015	32.4	7.1
2016	32.6	7.0
2017	36.1	7.7

Export share of machinery has grown considerably

At the beginning of the last century, Dutch exports were dominated by agricultural goods. Over 40 percent of exports were food products. Nowadays, food products represent 15 percent of total exports from the Netherlands. The Netherlands is earning substantially from exports of mineral fuels, chemical products en machinery and transport vehicles. The export interest of machinery and transport vehicles increased from 5 percent in 1920 to 28 percent in 2017.

Share in export value
	Food, beverages and tobacco (%)	Raw materials, oils and fats (%)	Mineral fuels (%)	Chemical products (%)	Machinery, transport vehicles (%)	Manufactured goods (%)
1920	41.3	18.3	1.3	5.8	4.9	28.5
1925	49.3	15.0	3.9	5.6	4.8	21.4
1930	40.1	14.9	6.4	5.2	10.4	22.9
1937	32.2	16.1	6.0	6.6	9.9	29.3
1947	32.9	12.6	2.3	8.4	17.5	26.3
1957	28.1	8.4	14.3	8.5	14.6	26.2
1967	23.7	8.9	7.9	12.2	20.1	27.2
1977	20.6	6.2	18.2	14.5	17.4	23.2
1987	20.5	6.5	11.1	18.0	21.0	22.9
1997	16.7	6.2	7.2	16.3	30.3	23.3
2007	12.8	6.1	12.1	17.1	32.6	19.2
2017	14.7	5.6	12.8	17.4	28.4	21.1

Share in export value
	Food, beverages and tobacco (%)	Raw materials, oils and fats (%)	Mineral fuels (%)	Chemical products (%)	Machinery, transport vehicles (%)	Manufactured goods (%)
1920	41.3	18.3	1.3	5.8	4.9	28.5
1925	49.3	15.0	3.9	5.6	4.8	21.4
1930	40.1	14.9	6.4	5.2	10.4	22.9
1937	32.2	16.1	6.0	6.6	9.9	29.3
1947	32.9	12.6	2.3	8.4	17.5	26.3
1957	28.1	8.4	14.3	8.5	14.6	26.2
1967	23.7	8.9	7.9	12.2	20.1	27.2
1977	20.6	6.2	18.2	14.5	17.4	23.2
1987	20.5	6.5	11.1	18.0	21.0	22.9
1997	16.7	6.2	7.2	16.3	30.3	23.3
2007	12.8	6.1	12.1	17.1	32.6	19.2
2017	14.7	5.6	12.8	17.4	28.4	21.1

Asia increasingly important for exports

One century ago, 15 percent of Dutch exports went to countries outside Europe; at present, nearly one in every four euros in export value is generated there. Asia in particular is becoming an increasingly important trading area. Asia’s share in Dutch exports amounted to 9 percent in 2012; this is now more than 11 percent of the total export package. In the same period, exports to Africa and America declined by 0.6 and 0.4 percentage point, respectively.

Exports to continents except Europe
	Africa (bn euros)	America (bn euros)	Australia and Oceania (bn euros)	Asia (bn euros)
1967	0.5	1.0	0.3	0.7
1968	0.5	1.3	0.3	0.7
1969	0.6	1.3	0.3	0.8
1970	0.6	1.6	0.4	0.9
1971	0.7	1.6	0.4	1.0
1972	0.8	1.7	0.4	0.9
1973	0.9	2.0	0.5	1.3
1974	1.4	2.8	1.0	1.8
1975	1.7	2.2	1.1	2.2
1976	1.8	2.5	1.3	2.6
1977	2.0	2.8	1.4	2.8
1978	1.9	2.8	1.2	3.3
1979	2.1	2.9	1.2	3.4
1980	2.7	3.0	1.7	4.2
1981	3.3	4.1	2.1	5.2
1982	3.2	4.2	1.9	5.1
1983	3.2	4.9	2.1	5.5
1984	3.1	6.5	2.1	6.5
1985	3.2	7.2	2.2	6.1
1986	2.7	6.0	1.3	5.1
1987	2.4	5.4	1.2	5.0
1988	2.6	5.6	1.3	5.8
1989	2.7	6.6	1.3	5.8
1990	2.5	6.0	1.3	6.0
1991	2.4	6.1	1.3	6.5
1992	2.2	6.5	1.3	6.9
1993	2.4	7.2	1.5	8.4
1994	2.2	7.5	1.6	8.9
1995	2.4	7.3	1.4	9.6
1996	2.6	7.9	0.6	10.2
1997	2.8	9.6	0.7	11.8
1998	3.3	10.5	0.7	10.6
1999	3.1	11.2	0.7	11.9
2000	3.6	14.8	0.8	15.6
2001	3.9	14.7	0.9	15.5
2002	4.0	15.5	0.9	15.7
2003	4.4	15.3	1.0	15.3
2004	4.6	16.1	1.1	18.2
2005	5.6	18.5	1.2	19.9
2006	6.6	22.4	1.3	23.0
2007	8.7	24.5	1.4	25.9
2008	9.7	24.6	1.7	25.9
2009	9.2	20.6	1.5	25.1
2010	11.3	25.9	1.6	31.3
2011	13.0	29.9	2.1	33.8
2012	14.7	32.8	2.6	38.4
2013	14.5	29.2	2.6	38.1
2014	14.2	31.4	2.6	39.0
2015	14.0	30.8	2.7	42.0
2016	11.8	31.4	2.8	44.4
2017	13.0	33.9	3.3	52.7

Exports to continents except Europe
	Africa (bn euros)	America (bn euros)	Australia and Oceania (bn euros)	Asia (bn euros)
1967	0.5	1.0	0.3	0.7
1968	0.5	1.3	0.3	0.7
1969	0.6	1.3	0.3	0.8
1970	0.6	1.6	0.4	0.9
1971	0.7	1.6	0.4	1.0
1972	0.8	1.7	0.4	0.9
1973	0.9	2.0	0.5	1.3
1974	1.4	2.8	1.0	1.8
1975	1.7	2.2	1.1	2.2
1976	1.8	2.5	1.3	2.6
1977	2.0	2.8	1.4	2.8
1978	1.9	2.8	1.2	3.3
1979	2.1	2.9	1.2	3.4
1980	2.7	3.0	1.7	4.2
1981	3.3	4.1	2.1	5.2
1982	3.2	4.2	1.9	5.1
1983	3.2	4.9	2.1	5.5
1984	3.1	6.5	2.1	6.5
1985	3.2	7.2	2.2	6.1
1986	2.7	6.0	1.3	5.1
1987	2.4	5.4	1.2	5.0
1988	2.6	5.6	1.3	5.8
1989	2.7	6.6	1.3	5.8
1990	2.5	6.0	1.3	6.0
1991	2.4	6.1	1.3	6.5
1992	2.2	6.5	1.3	6.9
1993	2.4	7.2	1.5	8.4
1994	2.2	7.5	1.6	8.9
1995	2.4	7.3	1.4	9.6
1996	2.6	7.9	0.6	10.2
1997	2.8	9.6	0.7	11.8
1998	3.3	10.5	0.7	10.6
1999	3.1	11.2	0.7	11.9
2000	3.6	14.8	0.8	15.6
2001	3.9	14.7	0.9	15.5
2002	4.0	15.5	0.9	15.7
2003	4.4	15.3	1.0	15.3
2004	4.6	16.1	1.1	18.2
2005	5.6	18.5	1.2	19.9
2006	6.6	22.4	1.3	23.0
2007	8.7	24.5	1.4	25.9
2008	9.7	24.6	1.7	25.9
2009	9.2	20.6	1.5	25.1
2010	11.3	25.9	1.6	31.3
2011	13.0	29.9	2.1	33.8
2012	14.7	32.8	2.6	38.4
2013	14.5	29.2	2.6	38.1
2014	14.2	31.4	2.6	39.0
2015	14.0	30.8	2.7	42.0
2016	11.8	31.4	2.8	44.4
2017	13.0	33.9	3.3	52.7

Sources

StatLine - International trade; value of imports and exports starting in year 1917
StatLine - Approaches of domestic product (GDP); National Accounts