One-fifth of businesses rethinking their strategy due to tensions abroad
Tensions, disruptions or policy changes in markets abroad can impact the Dutch economy. In March 2025, 13 percent of businesses indicated that they were making changes to their business strategy for this reason. In addition, 8 percent said that they were planning to do so. Most businesses (47 percent) have not done so and have no plans to do so. Nearly one-third of businesses only operate domestically.
Businesses in manufacturing (33 percent) and transportation and storage (30 percent) were the most likely to say that they have made changes or plan to make changes to their business strategy due to developments in the overseas markets in which they operate. Within the manufacturing sector, businesses in transportation equipment (46 percent), electronics and machinery (45 percent) and metals (36 percent) are the most likely to be doing this.
Businesses in the business services sector and other services sector are also relatively likely to be making changes to their strategy due to developments in overseas markets. These are mainly active in research, architects and engineering firms, advertising and design, and the repair of consumer products.
| Bedrijfstak | Yes, we have made changes to our business strategy (% of businesses) | Yes, we plan to make changes to our business strategy (% of businesses) | No, we have not made any changes to our business strategy and do not plan to do so (% of businesses) | Not applicable, operations are entirely domestic (% of businesses) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (manufacturing, trade, services) | 13.2 | 8.5 | 45.7 | 32.6 |
| Manufacturing | 19.8 | 13.6 | 53.8 | 12.8 |
| Transportation and trade | 22.7 | 6.9 | 41.9 | 28.5 |
| Other services | 12.3 | 8.2 | 13.6 | 65.9 |
| Business services | 10.6 | 9.0 | 38.7 | 41.7 |
| Car trade and repair | 8.6 | 7.6 | 46.6 | 37.2 |
| Retail (excl. cars) | 9.4 | 6.4 | 51.2 | 33.0 |
| Accommodation and food services | 9.2 | 5.8 | 40.2 | 44.8 |
| Information and communications | 6.8 | 5.9 | 58.2 | 29.1 |
Businesses mainly making changes involving import or export markets
Among those businesses that said they were in the process of changing their business strategy, most (30 percent) reported choosing different countries as import or export markets. Almost half of businesses in manufacturing changing their business strategy indicated this, and businesses in the retail sector and car trade and repair sector were also relatively likely to report this. In addition, 20 percent of businesses reported expanding their inventories as an important aspect of their revised business strategy. Businesses in transportation and storage, other services and information and communications mentioned this the most often. 10 percent of businesses revising their strategy said they were moving their production: 8 percent were moving production to new countries (‘friendshoring’) and 2 percent were moving production back to the Netherlands (‘reshoring’). Businesses in the retail sector are the most likely to be doing this: 21 percent of them are friendshoring and 6 percent are reshoring.
Most businesses that are revising their business strategy (54 percent) selected different responses from the options shown. Businesses were able to choose up to two options, meaning that the total within each sector may exceed 100 percent. Businesses in the manufacturing and retail sectors were the most likely to choose more than one response.
| Bedrijfstak | Changes involving import or export markets (% of businesses) | Expanding inventories to create a buffer against unexpected disruptions (% of businesses) | Moving production to other countries (also known as 'friendshoring') (% of businesses) | Moving production back to the Netherlands (also known as ‘reshoring’) (% of businesses) | Other aspect (% of businesses) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (manufacturing, trade, services) | 30.4 | 19.8 | 8.3 | 2.3 | 53.9 |
| Manufacturing | 48.2 | 18.0 | 10.5 | 3.0 | 43.1 |
| Retail (excl. cars) | 37.3 | 25.9 | 20.9 | 6.3 | 32.9 |
| Car trade and repair | 36.4 | 14.2 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 53.7 |
| Business services | 22.4 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 1.5 | 75.5 |
| Information and communications | 21.3 | 28.3 | 7.1 | 0.0 | 49.6 |
| Transportation and storage | 12.8 | 35.7 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 54.2 |
| Other services | 9.3 | 31.2 | 1.5 | 7.8 | 53.2 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3.3 | 14.7 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 78.7 |
| 1)Businesses were able to select up to two options | |||||
Operating costs on the rise as a result
Among businesses making changes to their business strategy, more expect their operating costs to increase (36 percent) than decrease (24 percent). Most businesses (40 percent) foresee no effect on costs. Businesses in the retail sector were the most likely to anticipate an increase in costs as a result of a different business strategy (58 percent). In the car trade and repair sector, there is also a major difference between the proportion of businesses expecting an increase in costs and those expecting a decrease. In business services and information and communications, more businesses expect a decrease in costs than an increase.
| Bedrijfstak | An increase (% of businesses) | No effect (% of businesses) | A decrease (% of businesses) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (manufacturing, trade, services) | 35.9 | 40.1 | 24.0 |
| Retail (excl. cars) | 57.6 | 24.1 | 18.4 |
| Car trade and repair | 49.4 | 37.0 | 13.6 |
| Transportation and storage | 46.5 | 23.9 | 29.6 |
| Accommodation and food services | 38.7 | 40.0 | 21.3 |
| Manufacturing | 37.6 | 37.3 | 25.1 |
| Other services | 20.0 | 62.0 | 18.0 |
| Business services | 18.9 | 57.7 | 23.5 |
| Information and communications | 15.0 | 65.4 | 19.7 |
One-third of businesses expect to raise their prices
Among the businesses revising their business strategy, one-third expect to raise the prices of their products or services as a result. Businesses in the accommodation and food services sector and retail sector are the most likely to indicate this (56 percent). However, the share of businesses in these sectors indicating that they are planning to make changes is much smaller than in the other sectors. In car trade and repair and business services, businesses adjusting their strategies were the least likely to anticipate raising their prices. Most businesses (nearly two-thirds) indicated that prices would remain the same.
| Bedrijfstak | An increase (% of businesses) | No effect (% of businesses) | A decrease (% of businesses) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total (manufacturing, trade, services) | 32.3 | 63.6 | 4.1 |
| Accommodation and food services | 56.7 | 41.3 | 2.0 |
| Retail (excl. cars) | 56.3 | 41.8 | 1.9 |
| Other services | 41.5 | 58.5 | 0.0 |
| Manufacturing | 33.8 | 59.6 | 6.6 |
| Transportation and trade | 31.1 | 65.2 | 3.7 |
| Information and communications | 18.9 | 81.1 | 0.0 |
| Business services | 16.8 | 80.1 | 3.1 |
| Car trade and repair | 14.3 | 79.5 | 6.2 |
Related items
- European Commission - Business adjustment to tensions in foreign markets