International trade in goods expanded significantly in 2017. Both the import and export value rose by 10 percent. The import value amounted to 411 billion euros, the export value to 469 billion euros. Since 2009, both the import and export value have risen by 50 percent.

Of the 411 billion euros’ worth of goods imported by the Netherlands in 2017, one third came in the form of machines and transport equipment. Mineral fuels accounted for 16 percent and chemical products for 13 percent. As regards the value of goods exported (469 billion euros in 2017), machines and transport equipment also represented the highest proportion, at 28 percent. Chemical products came in second with 17 percent.

Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom were our most important trading partners in 2017, in terms of the value of goods imported and exported. This top 3 is the same if we focus solely on export value. Turning to import value, China occupies third place, behind Germany and Belgium. To the European countries in its top 10 trading partners, the Netherlands generally exports a higher value than it imports. The only exception to this is Russia. China, the United States and Russia are the only countries in the top 10 for which the value of the goods they export to the Netherlands is higher than that of the goods they import from the Netherlands.

Exports and imports of services to Germany in 2017 grew by 9 percent and 15 percent respectively, placing Germany above the United Kingdom on the list of Dutch trading partners. Germany also looks set to overtake the United States, which was the Netherlands’ main trading partner in 2016. International trade in services covers both services exports (Dutch companies providing services abroad) and services imports (foreign companies providing services to the Netherlands).

 In 2017, 193 billion euros in services were exported and 187 billion euros in services were imported. For both exports and imports, this represents a rise of 12 percent compared to 2016. This growth comes primarily from the two main types of services: other business services (e.g. R&D services) and royalties (e.g. fees for the use of music). The import and export of services in these categories accounted for over half of the trade in services in 2017.