Exports up by over 2 percent in July

In July 2026, the total volume of goods exported (adjusted for the number of working days) was up by 2.1 percent, year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Companies exported more machinery, in particular. Exports of chemical products and transport equipment were also higher. In June, exports grew by 3.4 percent. In July 2026, the volume of goods imported was up by 0.4 percent on July 2025. This was mainly due to imports of machinery and electronic products.

Conditions for exports less unfavourable in September than in July

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 linked to export activity, an improvement in conditions does not necessarily mean higher export growth.

The conditions for exports were less unfavourable in September than they were in July. That is mainly because the year-on-year change in real exchange rates was more favourable. Furthermore, producer confidence in Germany and the eurozone was less negative. Opinions among Dutch manufacturers regarding foreign orders also became less negative. However, the year-on-year contraction in German manufacturing output was larger.