Increase car imports over 2008, downturn in 4th quarter

In 2008, more than 623 thousand new cars were imported into the Netherlands, nearly 45 thousand (8 percent) more than in 2007. The entire increase was spread over the first three quarters, when 60 thousand more new cars were imported than in the same period of 2007. In the fourth quarter of 2008, car imports declined sharply by nearly 16 thousand (12 percent) relative to the same period in the preceding year.

Car imports

Most cars imported from Europe

Last year, 84 percent of new cars imported into the Netherlands came from other countries on the European continent, as against 85 percent in 2007. Accounting for more than half, Belgium and Germany were the main suppliers. The share of Asia in Dutch car imports rose by 1 percentage points to 14 percent. Japan and China are the main exporting countries.

New cars by manufacturing country, 2008

Wiel Packbier