Manufacturing companies more positive about competitive position

Dutch manufacturing companies reported an improvement in their competitive position on the EU market in the first nine months of 2004. In the first half of this year exports of Dutch products were up.

The manufacturing industry was able to join in the growth in world trade in products that are significant for Dutch exports. They had not been able to last year, when they reported a deterioration in their competitive position.

Opinions on competitive position on EU market and exports

Improved competitive position results in more exports

The competitive position of the Dutch manufacturing industry on the EU market is important for exports of Dutch products, as the manufacturing industry produces 80 percent of exported Dutch goods, and most of these are sold within the EU.

Opinions of Dutch goods producers on their competitive position in the EU are connected with developments in exports: the position improves as exports increase, and deteriorates when exports fall.

Dutch exports and relevant world trade

Benefiting from world trade?

The competitive position on the foreign market is mainly significant for the extent to which the Netherlands benefits from world trade. For example, the Netherlands has substantial exports of chemical products.

In the period 1996-2000 Dutch exports benefited from the growth in world trade in goods that are relevant for Dutch exports. According to Dutch manufacturers their competitive position improved in those four years

In 2001 and 2002 the growth in world trade decreased. Exports of Dutch goods also declined. This was accompanied by more sombre opinions on the competitive position.

In 2003 world trade revived but manufacturers opinions on their competitive position deteriorated further. The Netherlands was not able to benefit from the recovery of global trade.

In the first half of 2004 exports of goods from the Netherlands were able to follow in the wake of the growth in world trade. According to manufacturers their competitive position improved in the first nine months of 2004.

Roberto Wekker