Netherlands Balance of Trade

The Netherlands trade surplus increased to EUR 6.35 billion in October 2019 from EUR 4.31 billion in the same month last year. This was the largest trade surplus since March 2017, as exports rose 4.0 percent to an all-time high boosted by sales of machinery & transport equipment (10.2 percent), food & live animals (6.0 percent), and chemicals (8.4 percent). In contrast, exports fell for both manufactured goods (-1.5 percent) and fuels & lubricants (-17.2 percent). Among major trade partners, exports to non-EU countries jumped 14.3 percent, while those to the EU went down 0.2 percent. Meanwhile, imports declined 0.6 percent due to purchases of fuels & lubricants (-25.2 percent) and manufactured goods (-5.0 percent). Conversely, imports rose for chemicals (3.5 percent) and machinery & transport equipment (8.9 percent). Imports from the EU were down 1.6 percent, while those from non-EU countries rose 0.5 percent.

The Netherlands trade surplus narrowed to EUR 5.31 billion in September 2019 from EUR 5.91 billion in the same month last year. Exports rose 3.1 percent boosted by sales of machinery & equipment (8.3 percent), manufactured goods (13.0 percent) and food & live animals (5.6 percent). In contrast, exports fell for both chemicals (-8.6 percent) and fuels & lubricants (-3.7 percent). Among major trade partners, exports grew to the EU (1.2 percent) and non-EU countries (7.4 percent). Meanwhile, imports increased at a faster 5.2 percent due to purchases of machinery & equipment (16.0 percent), manufactured goods (13.4 percent), chemicals (10.9 percent), and food & live animals (6.0 percent). Imports were up 5.2 percent from both the EU and non-EU countries.

The Netherlands trade surplus increased to EUR 3.88 billion in August 2019 from EUR 3.69 billion in the same month last year. Imports went down at a faster 4.0 percent to EUR 35.39 billion, due to lower purchases of fuels & lubricants (-24.9 percent); manufactured goods (-1.9 percent); fuels & lubricants (-12.8 percent); and food (-3.0 percent). Conversely, there were increases in those of miscellaneous manufactured articles (3.3 percent) and chemicals (3.2 percent). Purchases declined from the EU (-2.7 percent) and non-EU countries (-5.3 percent). Exports decreased 3.2 percent to EUR 39.27 billion dragged down by sales of machinery & equipment (-0.6 percent); manufactured goods (-4.4 percent); chemicals (-9.1 percent); food (-0.4 percent), fuels & lubricants (-9.9 percent), while increases were seen in exports of miscellaneous manufactured articles (6.2 percent). Shipments dropped for both non-EU countries (-3.5 percent) and EU countries (-3.0 percent).

The Netherlands trade surplus narrowed to EUR 4.13 billion in July 2019 from EUR 4.18 billion in the same month last year. Exports increased 4.6 percent year-on-year to EUR 42.26 billion driven by sales of machinery & equipment (6.5 percent); manufactured goods (2.0 percent); chemicals (5.9 percent); food (10.4 percent), while declines were seen in exports of fuels & lubricants (-12.8 percent). Shipments rose for both non-EU countries (5.6 percent ) and EU countries (4.1 percent). Meanwhile, imports went up at a faster 5.3 percent to EUR 38.13 billion, due to higher purchases of manufactured articles (5.7 percent); chemicals (9.6 percent); machinery & equipment (13.1 percent), and food (5.7 percent); while those of fuels & lubricants fell (-13.5 percent). Purchases increased from the EU (2.0 percent) and non-EU countries (9.1 percent).

The Netherlands trade surplus widened to EUR 5.16 billion in June 2019 from EUR 4.98 billion in the same month last year. Exports edged up 0.1 percent to EUR 41.86 billion driven by sales of machinery & equipment (5.5 percent) and manufactured goods (1.4 percent), while declines were seen in exports of chemicals (-2.8 percent) and fuels & lubricants (-0.3 percent). Exports to non-EU countries jumped 10.2 percent while those to the EU fell 4 percent. Meanwhile, imports dropped 0.4 percent to EUR 36.71 billion, due to lower purchases of fuels & lubricants (-5.1 percent), manufactured articles (-6.8 percent), and food (-3.4 percent). Meanwhile, imports rose for chemicals (6.2 percent) and machinery & equipment (2.7 percent). Purchases declined from the EU (-2.8 percent), while an increase was seen in imports from non-EU countries (2.4 percent).

The Netherlands's trade surplus rose to EUR 5.58 billion in May 2019 from EUR 5 billion in the same month of the previous year. This was the largest trade surplus since November last year, as exports rose more than imports. Exports went up 7.9 percent from a year earlier to EUR 45.03 billion, boosted by higher sales of chemical products (6.9%); machinery & transport equipment (13.6%); miscellaneous manufactured articles (10.1%). Exports to the EU increased 6.0 percent while those to outside the EU surged 12.6 percent. Imports increased at a softer 7.4 percent to EUR 39.46 billion, mainly driven by purchases of chemical products (12.4%); machinery & transport equipment (8.4%); miscellaneous manufactured articles (10.3%). Imports from the EU advanced 8.8 percent and those from outside the EU rose at a softer 5.6 percent. Considering the first five months of the year, the trade balance recorded a surplus of EUR 22.69 billion.