Half of imports from the UK not for domestic use

Last year, imports of mineral fuels such as crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas were good for 11 billion euros, i.e. 42 percent of total imports from the UK. This share was 24 percent in 2002 and 36 percent in 2017.

Within a period of one year, the import value increased by 13 percent to reach 26.4 billion euros in 2018, up from 23.3 billion euros in the previous year. The increase was most significant for crude oil (+1.9 billion euros), petroleum products (+412 million euros), propane and butane in liquid form (+58 million euros), reciprocating engines (+54 million euros) and vegetable refined oils and fats (+51 million euros). The import value of crude oil has risen due to an increase in both quantity and price.

Mineral fuels mostly for own use

For 2017 and previous years, data are also available on the destination of Dutch imports from the UK. More than half are intended for Dutch consumption or production. This share rose slightly from 51.1 percent in 2015 to 51.5 percent in 2017.

Most commonly used for domestic use are mineral fuels (61 percent), followed by chemical products (57 percent). Less often intended for the domestic market are food and raw materials (48 percent), industrial products (43 percent) and machinery and transport equipment (40 percent).

Petroleum and cars often for domestic use

Crude oil, petroleum products and other mineral fuels (e.g. natural gas) account for the largest share in imports from the UK. Approximately 2.9 billion euros in crude oil imports out of a total of 3.4 billion euros is destined for the local market and around 0.5 billion euros for re-exports. Petroleum products show the reverse: 0.7 billion euros in imports is for own use and 2.2 billion euros for re-exports.

As for the other mineral fuels, e.g. natural gas (72 percent), and cars (89 percent) and shoes (52 percent), the bulk of imports is for domestic use. When looking at other goods in the top ten of imported goods, the Netherlands is more often a transit point than a final destination. This applies to pharmaceuticals (41 percent for own use), telecommunication devices such as telephones (13 percent), jet engines and turbines, office equipment (both 2 percent) and lorries (25 percent).

The United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union. In a special dashboard, Statistics Netherlands is showing the main indicators for economic relationships between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands: the Brexit Monitor.