11 percent fewer goods imported from Africa

© CBS / Alrik Swagerman
In 2020, Dutch imports from Africa amounted to 10.9 billion euros. This is 11 percent less than in 2019. At the same time, Dutch exports to Africa fell by 10 percent, to 15.0 billion euros. Goods trade with Africa fell more rapidly than total Dutch goods trade. This is evident from Statistics Netherlands’ provisional figures on goods trade and the latest edition of the Internationalisation Monitor, which focuses on the trade relationship with Africa.

Over the past fifty years, Dutch international goods trade - both imports and exports - has increased at a global level. Goods imports from Africa have not held pace with total imports. In the period 2011-2020, Africa’s share in Dutch imports stood at 3.1 percent. Whereas total Dutch goods imports fell by 7.8 percent last year, imports from Africa declined by 10.8 percent, resulting in a lower share in total goods imports, namely 2.6 percent.

The African share in total Dutch goods exports has stood at an average 3.2 percent over the past decade. Last year, exports to Africa were down by 10.4 percent, a stronger decline than total Dutch exports (-6.5 percent). Just as with imports, the contraction is primarily due to the coronavirus crisis as well as lower oil prices. Trade with Africa includes a relatively high share of oil and oil products.

Development of Dutch goods trade
JaarTotal imports (1970=100)Imports from Africa (1970=100)Total exports (1970=100)Exports to Africa (1970=100)
1970100100100100
197110894114108
197211395126121
1973137107157143
1974181202206220
1975181148208264
1976214197249283
1977230236252313
1978235232254293
1979278301300334
1980313396345425
1981337343401514
1982344356415501
1983357426433500
1984409451494483
1985444446530500
1986381240463424
1987380228441381
1988403209478403
1989456224538425
1990473245561392
1991488257584378
1992487216578344
1993477197606376
1994528208674338
1995587216742381
1996634250795405
1997714258886445
1998764266934514
1999810292975487
20009803681199564
20019904691248612
20029323751203625
20039383801211685
200410353691322727
200511335531454872
2006129461116491025
2007139377117971357
2008152392119161511
2009124271216001434
2010150594219211774
20111655107121172029
20121766138822222294
20131752130222392270
20141734120422412230
2015168898621662193
2016167274421881844
2017185485124171998
2018200194025742524
20192085103526642620
2020192392424912349

Mainly supplier of raw materials

Over 86 percent of the import value in trade with Africa comprises food, mineral fuels and other raw materials. Food imports partly concern raw materials such as cocoa beans, which are processed into chocolate in the Netherlands. The import package from Africa has a very different composition than the average import package, which contains 28 percent raw materials, food and mineral fuels. The main imported goods from Africa include crude oil, cocoa beans, fruits, cut flowers and aluminium.

Composition of Dutch imports, 2020
IMPORTFood and beverages (%)Raw materials and natural products (%)Mineral fuels (%)Chemical products (%)Machinery (%)Transport equipment (%)Manufactured articles (%)
Africa46231019373633818549931
All countries4597824060479895943811647826903103189

Largest goods supplier is Nigeria

In 2020, Dutch goods imports from Africa amounted to 10.9 billion euros. This is roughly equivalent to the value of imports from Italy, our 7th largest goods supplier. The main African import partner for the Dutch domestic market is Nigeria, followed by South Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon. Together, these five countries accounted for 61 percent of total goods imports from Africa last year.

Dutch imports from Africa
IMPORTNigeria (bn euros)South Africa (bn euros)Ivory Coast (bn euros)Ghana (bn euros)Cameroon (bn euros)Other countries (bn euros)
20153.41.21.10.60.35.0
20193.21.61.30.80.74.6
20202.21.61.50.70.74.3

Relatively high share of oil products in exports

Africa holds a share of 37 percent in Dutch mineral fuel exports. In the entire Dutch export package, mineral fuels account for 9 percent. Goods imported by Africa from the Netherlands mainly include oil products such as petrol and diesel, machinery, dairy, medicines and other chemical products.

Composition of Dutch exports, 2020
EXPORTFood and beverages (%)Raw materials and natural products (%)Mineral fuels (%)Chemical products (%)Machinery (%)Transport equipment (%)Manufactured articles (%)
Africa22395235618260921066051309
All countries6921329523443398890812283724262102764

Nigeria and South Africa the main export destinations

In 2020, Dutch exports to African countries amounted to 15.0 billion euros. This is comparable to the value of exports to Spain, our 7th largest export market. The main African export destinations are Nigeria and South Africa, followed by Egypt, Togo and Morocco. Nearly 62 percent of Dutch exports to Africa go to these five countries.

Dutch exports to Africa
EXPORTNigeria (bn euros)South Africa (bn euros)Egypt (bn euros)Togo (bn euros)Morocco (bn euros)Other countries (bn euros)
20152.92.01.41.00.85.8
20195.21.91.60.81.16.1
20203.91.71.51.31.05.8

For more details on trade flows between the Netherlands and Africa, read the Executive Summary (in English) that is included in the Internationalisation Monitor on Africa.