Exports down by 4 percent in March

15/05/2020 15:00

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.

In March 2020, the total volume of goods exports shrank by 4.0 percent year-on-year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands. This is the first contraction in exports since June 2019. In March 2020, exports of transporting equipment and machinery decreased in particular. However, exports of petroleum and chemical products increased year-on-year. The volume of imports was 3.7 percent lower than in March 2019. In March 2020, imports of minerals, transport equipment and clothing were down in particular.

The CBS Exports Radar indicates that in May circumstances for exports are less favourable than they were in March.

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year	Month	%-change (year-on-year %-change)
2016	April	5.4
2016	May	6.3
2016	June	2.3
2016	July	2.9
2016	August	3
2016	September	5.8
2016	October	3.3
2016	November	6.4
2016	December	5.3
2017	January	1.7
2017	February	6.7
2017	March	8.3
2017	April	0.7
2017	May	4.6
2017	June	10.8
2017	July	7
2017	August	7.2
2017	September	7.8
2017	October	6.9
2017	November	7
2017	December	6.1
2018	January	4.7
2018	February	4.6
2018	March	3.2
2018	April	6.8
2018	May	4.6
2018	June	0.3
2018	July	2.8
2018	August	2.7
2018	September	3.2
2018	October	3.2
2018	November	1
2018	December	0.5
2019	January	2.2
2019	February	-0.5
2019	March	1.1
2019	April	1.5
2019	May	-0.3
2019	June	0.6
2019	July	0
2019	August	3.5
2019	September	1.4
2019	October	5.6
2019	November	2.2
2019	December	4.6
2020	January	2.9
2020	February	0.9
2020	March	-4

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year	Month	%-change (year-on-year %-change)
2016	April	5.4
2016	May	6.3
2016	June	2.3
2016	July	2.9
2016	August	3
2016	September	5.8
2016	October	3.3
2016	November	6.4
2016	December	5.3
2017	January	1.7
2017	February	6.7
2017	March	8.3
2017	April	0.7
2017	May	4.6
2017	June	10.8
2017	July	7
2017	August	7.2
2017	September	7.8
2017	October	6.9
2017	November	7
2017	December	6.1
2018	January	4.7
2018	February	4.6
2018	March	3.2
2018	April	6.8
2018	May	4.6
2018	June	0.3
2018	July	2.8
2018	August	2.7
2018	September	3.2
2018	October	3.2
2018	November	1
2018	December	0.5
2019	January	2.2
2019	February	-0.5
2019	March	1.1
2019	April	1.5
2019	May	-0.3
2019	June	0.6
2019	July	0
2019	August	3.5
2019	September	1.4
2019	October	5.6
2019	November	2.2
2019	December	4.6
2020	January	2.9
2020	February	0.9
2020	March	-4

Exports and imports

In March, exports to Germany and the United Kingdom were substantially lower than one year previously. This was mainly due ta sharp drop in exports of transport equipment. In terms of imports, petroleum and natural gas from Russia and Norway plummeted in particular.

Conditions for exports in May more unfavourable than in March

Every month, CBS also publishes updates on the circumstances for exports in the Exports Radar. Conditions are strongly affected by recent developments on the main export markets for Dutch products and by the competitive position of the Netherlands. Although the Radar indicators show a strong correlation with export activity, improved circumstances are not necessarily translated into increased export growth.

According to the CBS Exports Radar, circumstances for exports in May are more unfavourable than in March. This is mainly because producer confidence in Germany and the eurozone was down. Furthermore, Dutch and European manufacturers were more pessimistic about their foreign order position. In addition, the year-on-year decline in German manufacturing output was more substantial.

Goods exports account for approximately three-quarters of total exports. As for data on exports of services, these are not published monthly. Data on total exports are published quarterly and annually. Figures published in this news release are provisional and subject to revision.

Sources

StatLine - Imports/exports; change of ownership

Exports and imports

Conditions for exports in May more unfavourable than in March

Sources

Related items