Exports up by over 10 percent in March

18/05/2021 15:00

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

In March 2021, the total volume of goods exports was up by 10.4 percent year-on-year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This is the highest growth since July 2017. The increase was mainly seen in exports of machinery, transport equipment and agricultural products. The volume of imports in March was up by 10.9 percent year-on-year.

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

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year	Month	%-change (year-on-year %-change)
2017	April	0.7
2017	May	4.6
2017	June	10.7
2017	July	7.1
2017	August	7.3
2017	September	7.9
2017	October	7
2017	November	7.1
2017	December	6.2
2018	January	4.8
2018	February	4.3
2018	March	3.1
2018	April	6.2
2018	May	5.3
2018	June	0.4
2018	July	2.7
2018	August	4
2018	September	3
2018	October	3.4
2018	November	0.4
2018	December	0.6
2019	January	2.2
2019	February	-0.3
2019	March	1.5
2019	April	1.7
2019	May	-0.1
2019	June	0.7
2019	July	-0.1
2019	August	3.4
2019	September	1.4
2019	October	6.3
2019	November	2.3
2019	December	4.5
2020	January	3.2
2020	February	1
2020	March	-4.7
2020	April	-12.7
2020	May	-11.6
2020	June	-2.9
2020	July	0
2020	August	-3.4
2020	September	0.8
2020	October	2.7
2020	November	1.3
2020	December	-0.8
2021	January	3.3
2021	February	3
2021	March	10.4

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year	Month	%-change (year-on-year %-change)
2017	April	0.7
2017	May	4.6
2017	June	10.7
2017	July	7.1
2017	August	7.3
2017	September	7.9
2017	October	7
2017	November	7.1
2017	December	6.2
2018	January	4.8
2018	February	4.3
2018	March	3.1
2018	April	6.2
2018	May	5.3
2018	June	0.4
2018	July	2.7
2018	August	4
2018	September	3
2018	October	3.4
2018	November	0.4
2018	December	0.6
2019	January	2.2
2019	February	-0.3
2019	March	1.5
2019	April	1.7
2019	May	-0.1
2019	June	0.7
2019	July	-0.1
2019	August	3.4
2019	September	1.4
2019	October	6.3
2019	November	2.3
2019	December	4.5
2020	January	3.2
2020	February	1
2020	March	-4.7
2020	April	-12.7
2020	May	-11.6
2020	June	-2.9
2020	July	0
2020	August	-3.4
2020	September	0.8
2020	October	2.7
2020	November	1.3
2020	December	-0.8
2021	January	3.3
2021	February	3
2021	March	10.4

Conditions for exports more favourable in May

Every month, CBS also publishes updates on the circumstances for exports in the Exports Radar. Conditions are largely determined by developments on the main export markets for Dutch domestic products and in 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 favourable than in March. All indicators improved significantly. Producer confidence in both Germany and the eurozone increased. Furthermore, the year-on-year decline in German manufacturing output changed into growth. The increase in the real effective exchange rate was less substantial. European manufacturers were less pessimistic about their foreign orders, while Dutch manufacturers were positive about their foreign orders for the first time since August 2018.

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

Conditions for exports more favourable in May

Sources

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