What do we import from China?

The Netherlands imports large quantities of electronic devices such as modems, routers, computers and laptops from China. Total Dutch imports from China amounted to over 64 billion euros in 2022. Most goods arrive in the Netherlands on large container ships.

Modems and routers account for the highest import value, at 7.6 billion euros. Computers, laptops and tablets from China accounted for another 5.7 billion euros in 2022. Imported chips, semi-conductors and solar panels totalled 3.7 billion euros. In addition to these high-tech products China also supplies large volumes of clothing (3.5 billion euros) and shoes (0.8 billion). Imports also included 1.6 billion euros worth of furniture.

Show datatableGoods trade with China (bn euros)Hide datatableGoods trade with China (bn euros)

Goods trade with China (bn euros)

Jaar	Imports from China	Exports to China
2015	29.1	8.2
2016	29.1	9.3
2017	32.4	10.9
2018	34.8	11.2
2019	37.6	12.1
2020	38.9	13.5
2021*	46.0	13.2
2022*	64.2	14.6
*Provisional figures

Larger share of imports from China

The value of goods imported from China has more than doubled since 2015: from 29 billion euros to 64 billion in 2022. Some of this increase was the result of higher prices. In 2022, in particular, prices of many products went up. But even aside from this, imports from China have grown by much more than total goods imports in the last thirty years. In 2022, 9.5 percent of all goods imported into the Netherlands came from China, making it the third largest trading partner.

With its ports and rivers, the Netherlands is also a gateway to other markets in Europe. The flow of goods from China is much more extensive than imports destined for the Netherlands alone. The total flow of goods, including those that remain in foreign ownership and are re-exported to other countries, amounted to 125 billion euros.

More exports to China too

The Netherlands also exports goods to China. Although these exports have also increased strongly in recent decades, they are substantially lower in value than imports. Exports to China amounted to 14.6 billion euros in 2022, accounting for around 2 percent of total Dutch goods exports in that year. China was the tenth largest export destination for Dutch products in 2022.

Specialised machinery – such as Dutch chip machines – accounts for a significant part of exports to China: 22.4 billion euros in 2022. But processed foods such as baby formula (milk powder) are also popular export items to China (2.3 billion euros).