Wholesale trade earns 40 billion euros from exports

In 2017, the Netherlands’ net earnings from the export of goods and services amounted to approximately 242.9 billion euros, of which 40.1 billion ended up in wholesale trade. With 17.6 billion euros in value added, re-exports are the most important form of exports from which wholesalers are earning. In re-exports, goods are imported which leave the country again in (virtually) the same unprocessed state. More than half of the value added of Dutch re-exports settles down in wholesale trade. Dutch-manufactured exports generate 17.4 billion euros in wholesale trade, while 5.2 billion euros is earned from the export of services. Wholesale trade occupies considerably smaller shares in Dutch-manufactured exports and service exports at 15 percent and over 5 percent, respectively.

Highest export earnings through other industries

The bulk of export revenues in wholesale trade is generated through the exports of other industries. For example, wholesale trade supplies raw materials or logistical services which enable other industries to export. In this way, wholesalers earn indirectly from the export of goods and services. In 2017, wholesale trade generated 25 billion euros in such indirect exports. The bulk of this value added are margins which are earned by wholesale companies in their role as export intermediaries as well as through their involvement in the exports of other supply companies.

Wholesalers an important link in manufacturing exports

Wholesale trade mainly contributes to the exports of manufacturing companies. In 2017, wholesale trade added a value of 6.5 billion euros to the exports of manufacturers.