Exports of entertainment-related services are growing

The export of audiovisual and artistic services, e.g. related to the broadcasting and production of films and TV programmes or international performances by Dutch artists, increased from 244 million euros in the first six months of 2014 to 393 million euros in the same period in 2018.

A far larger increase is seen in the export of royalties, i.e. payments made for the distribution and reproduction of music, films, TV programmes or other creative concepts. This concerns rights sold to foreign countries by companies based in the Netherlands. These payments increased from 1.6 billion euros in the first half of 2014 to 4.2 billion euros in 2018. This can be attributed to the rapid global rise in streaming services. Some of the larger ones have settled in the Netherlands in recent years.

Imports not growing

The import of services related to the entertainment industry is below export levels and stood at approximately 2 billion euros in the first half of 2018. In contrast to exports, imports have not seen any growth over the past few years. Nearly half of total imports concern audiovisual and artistic services, such as services related to stage design, camera work and sound for the production of films or TV programmes. These services further include performances by foreign artists in the Netherlands. More than half of the total amount concerns the purchase of rights for the distribution or reproduction of audiovisual concepts, such as films.

Unites States increasingly important

The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and France are the leading trade partners in terms of entertainment-related services. In the first half of 2018, these countries accounted for around 48 percent of total Dutch trade with foreign partners. This was still 38 percent back in 2014. Imports from the United States in particular have increased significantly. The share of the Unites States in Dutch imports has more than quadrupled, from 7 percent in 2014 to 32 percent in 2018.