Exports up by over 4 percent in April

In April 2026, the total volume of goods exported (adjusted for the number of working days) was up by 4.4 percent, year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In March, exports grew by 3.8 percent. In April, companies exported more petroleum products, in particular. In addition, exports of electrical machinery and equipment and transport equipment were also higher than a year earlier. The volume of goods imported was up by 1.2 percent from April 2025. This was mainly due to imports of petroleum products. However, imports of crude oil and gas condensate were lower.

The figures for March were originally scheduled for publication on Tuesday 19 May, but were postponed due to a fire in a data centre. The figures for March were published in StatLine today.

Conditions for exports equally unfavourable in June as in April

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

For June, the conditions for exports were equally unfavourable as they were in April. The year-on-year change in real exchange rates was more favourable, but the year-on-year contraction of German manufacturing output was greater and producer confidence in Germany and the eurozone was more negative.