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. Balance of Trade in Netherlands averaged 1187.72 EUR Million from 1960 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 6491 EUR Million in March of 2017 and a record low of -907.60 EUR Million in May of 1993.
Balance of Trade in Netherlands is expected to be 4100.00 EUR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in Netherlands to stand at 3500.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Netherlands Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 3950.00 EUR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.