Exports nearly back at level of twelve months previously

The volume of goods exports was 2 percent smaller in November 2009 than twelve months previously. In October, the decrease was 6 percent. The reason the decrease was smaller in November is that the first substantial fall in exports was in November 2008. The volume of goods imports shrank by just over 8 percent in November. This, too, is less than in previous months. Volume figures have been corrected for the number of working days.

According to the Exports Radar for January 2009, conditions for Dutch exports have improved compared with one month previously. Since May 2009, the situation has gradually picked up after a long period of deterioration.

In November, the value of exported goods totalled 27.5 billion euro, more than 5 percent down on one year previously. The value of imports plummeted by nearly 8 percent to 24.5 billion euro, resulting in a trade surplus of 3.1 billion euro, i.e. 0.5 billion euro up on November 2008.

The import value of manufactured products, machines and transport equipment dropped sharply. For exports the largest decreases were for raw materials and mineral fuels. Exports to EU countries decreased substantially, but non-EU exports were higher than twelve months previously for the first time in a long period. Imports from non-EU countries, on the other hand,  fell by more than imports from within the EU.

Partly as a result of lower prices of natural gas and chemical products, import prices were 2 percent lower and export prices 6 percent lower than in November 2008. This resulted in a deterioration in the  terms of trade of foreign goods compared with November 2008.

Goods exports (volume)

More figures can be found on the theme page International trade.