Foreword
Whereas the Internationalisation Monitor explores one particular theme per quarter, Dutch Trade in Facts and Figures 2019 – Export, investment and employment presents a collection of key figures on the internationalisation of the Netherlands. Many such figures can be obtained from various CBS publications and datasets, but are not available in a single publication. This is why the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned the CBS Expertise Centre for Globalisation to develop Dutch Trade in Facts and Figures, a new publication which is released annually as of 2019. It provides a broad target audience with objective information on the internationalisation of the Dutch business economy and the wider economy. It also offers independent data to support the Foreign Ministry’s policy on trade. Aside from the set of tables which contains the most important figures, this publication also presents an outline of the major trends and developments as they emerge from these figures.
The Netherlands generates substantial revenues and employment from its exports. This and more is illustrated in this first edition of Dutch Trade in Facts and Figures. At the same time, revenues vary according to the type of exports; the highest revenue per euro is earned through exports of services, the lowest through re-exports. To be able to export goods, the Netherlands has to import large quantities of intermediate goods such as raw materials and semi-finished products. Many such intermediates are used during manufacturing, incorporated into the production process or traded. Conversely, a proportion of self-produced intermediate goods are used abroad.
Companies that import and export goods or services do not constitue a homogeneous group. They differ in many aspects, for example in the types of goods and services they trade, their location, size and ownership (Dutch or foreign). With the Rotterdam port-industrial complex, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and numerous logistics hubs, the Netherlands is a distribution country par excellence. Due in part to its logistically favourable location, the quality of its infrastructure and its knowledge of international trade, the Netherlands plays a prominent role in stocking the European hinterland. Consequently, about half of the goods traded by the Netherlands are re-exports, mostly with destinations within Europe. Aside from being a trading nation and a distribution hub, the Netherlands is also a major investment country. The Netherlands takes top position in worldwide comparisons of inward and outward foreign investments. This is evidenced by the number of multinationals operating in the Netherlands and the number of people working there.
More news and reports in the field of globalisation and internationalisation can be found at https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/dossier/dossier-globalisation.
Director General
Dr T.B.P.M. Tjin-A-Tsoi
The Hague/Heerlen/Bonaire, November 2019