More Dutch sanction goods exports to Turkey

The EU has imposed trade sanctions on Russia in response to the war against Ukraine. It has been agreed that a number of goods, such as microchips, transport equipment, machinery and drones, may no longer be exported to Russia from EU countries. Exports of Dutch domestically produced goods to Russia were worth 284 million euros in Q2 2023. This is 63 percent lower than in the same quarter two years previously. Dutch domestic exports to Turkey and the Eurasian Economic Union countries (Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan, hereinafter referred to as the EAEU countries) rose by 42 and 75 percent respectively in Q2 2023 relative to the same period in 2021. Nevertheless, in the first two quarters of 2023, domestic exports to the EAEU were still lower than those to Russia.

Share of sanction goods in exports to Russia has halved

In Q2 2021, now sanctioned goods accounted for almost half of all domestic exports to Russia. This share was down to one-fifth two years later. Conversely, the share of sanctioned products in total domestic exports to both Turkey and the EAEU countries went up. Turkey’s share rose from 46 percent in Q2 2021 to 67 percent in Q2 2023. The EAEU countries’ share showed similar growth.

More Dutch office machines and lorries to Turkey

In Q2 2021, Russia was the second largest purchaser of Dutch office machines with a share of 10 percent and an export value of 19.3 million euros. The Turkish share in that quarter was 3.5 percent. Office machines include for example word processors, calculators and cash registers. These goods are currently sanctioned. Two years later, no Dutch office machines were exported to Russia. On the other hand, 1 in 10 office machines went to Turkey in Q2 2023, accounting for an export value of 15 million euros. This moved Turkey into Russia’s position as second largest export destination.

Lorries and buses are currently on the sanctions list well. In Q2 2021, Russia held a share of 1.8 percent in exports of Dutch-produced lorries and buses, with an export value of 11 million euros. Whereas exports to Russia stopped, those to Turkey went up. At 3 percent, Turkey’s share in these exports had risen significantly in Q2 2023 relative to 0.5 percent in Q2 2021. Lorry and bus exports also increased in trade with the EAEU countries. The export value was more than 35 times higher in Q2 2023 relative to two years previously. In Q2 2023, exports of Dutch lorries and buses to Turkey and the EAEU countries were worth 77 million and 23 million euros, respectively.