Exports slightly down in April

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© CBS / Alrik Swagerman
In April, the total volume of goods exports was down by 0.5 percent year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The decrease was mainly seen in exports of chemical and metal products. Exports of machinery and appliances as well as transport equipment were higher. The volume of goods imports was up by 5.5 percent relative to April 2022.

The CBS Exports Radar indicates that circumstances for exports in June are more unfavourable than in April.

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year Month%-change (year-on-year %-change)
2019May-0.7
2019June-0.2
2019July-1
2019August2.6
2019September0.5
2019October5
2019November1.2
2019December3.3
2020January3
2020February0.8
2020March-5.3
2020April-13.1
2020May-12.1
2020June-3.3
2020July-0.1
2020August-3.6
2020September0.5
2020October2.7
2020November1.3
2020December-0.6
2021January2.6
2021February2.8
2021March10.7
2021April23.7
2021May20.1
2021June12.9
2021July8.9
2021August8.3
2021September4.6
2021October-1
2021November7.6
2021December6.7
2022January0.6
2022February0.8
2022March-0.9
2022April0
2022May2.1
2022June4.9
2022July0.3
2022August-0.2
2022September4.3
2022October8.8
2022November5
2022December4.3
2023January0.9
2023February4.2
2023March2.4
2023April-0.5

Conditions for exports in June more unfavourable

Every month, CBS also publishes updates on the circumstances for exports in the Exports Radar. Conditions are largely determined by developments on the main export markets for Dutch domestic products and in the competitive position of the Netherlands. Although the Radar indicators show a strong correlation with export activity, improved circumstances are not necessarily translated into increased export growth.

According to the CBS Exports Radar, circumstances for exports in June are more unfavourable than in April. This is mainly because the development of the real effective exchange rate was more unfavourable. Opinions of Dutch and European manufacturers about their foreign orders deteriorated. Producer confidence in the Eurozone and Germany was also more negative.

Sources

Related items