Exports up by 0.4 percent in August

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In August 2025, the total volume of goods exported (adjusted for the number of working days) was up by 0.4 percent year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Growth is lower than a month earlier. Export volumes were higher for crude oil and natural gas, basic metals and metal products, and transport equipment. However, exports of food, beverages and tobacco, machinery and electrical equipment were lower than a year earlier. The volume of goods imported was up by 4.2 percent on August 2024. This was mainly because imports of crude oil and natural gas, transport equipment and petroleum products.

The CBS Exports Radar for October indicates that conditions for exports were more unfavourable than they were in August’s radar.

Conditions for exports more unfavourable in October

Every month, CBS also publishes an update on the conditions for exports in its Exports Radar. These are largely determined by developments in key sales markets for domestic exports and by the competitive position of the Netherlands. Although the Radar indicators are closely correlated with export activity, improved conditions do not necessarily mean higher export growth.

According to the CBS Exports Radar for October, conditions for exports were more unfavourable than they were in August. This was mainly because the year-on-year change in real exchange rates was more unfavourable. Furthermore, European manufacturers became more negative about their foreign orders. German producer confidence was more negative and the contraction of German manufacturing industry was larger.

Goods exports account for approximately three-quarters of total exports. Figures on services exports are not published monthly. Figures on total exports are published quarterly and annually. The figures in this news release are provisional and subject to revision.

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