At over 14 billion euros, the export value of specialised machinery reached an unprecedented level in the first half of 2021. Likewise, the export value of medicinal and pharmaceutical products, fruit and vegetables, (medical) instruments and devices, computers, plastics, and flowers and plants were at the highest level ever recorded.
By the first half of 2021, exports of transport equipment reached levels similar to those before the coronavirus pandemic as a result of rebounding European economies. Oil and gas exports recovered substantially as well relative to the previous year, but not to the same level as in 2019.
Goods exports, first six months
2021 (bn euros)
2020 (bn euros)
2019 (bn euros)
Oil and oil products
24.3
18.8
29.3
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products
15.7
15.5
12.6
Transport equipment
14.7
10.5
14.7
Specialised machinery
14.2
11.6
11.1
Fruit and vegetables
10.0
9.9
9.6
Instruments and devices
9.5
8.0
8.3
Computers, office equipment
9.3
8.1
8.6
Plastics in primary forms
8.3
6.3
6.9
Flowers and plants
7.9
6.3
6.4
Natural gas
4.6
3.5
5.5
Goods exports, first six months
2021 (bn euros)
2020 (bn euros)
2019 (bn euros)
Oil and oil products
24.3
18.8
29.3
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products
15.7
15.5
12.6
Transport equipment
14.7
10.5
14.7
Specialised machinery
14.2
11.6
11.1
Fruit and vegetables
10.0
9.9
9.6
Instruments and devices
9.5
8.0
8.3
Computers, office equipment
9.3
8.1
8.6
Plastics in primary forms
8.3
6.3
6.9
Flowers and plants
7.9
6.3
6.4
Natural gas
4.6
3.5
5.5
Domestic exports grew more rapidly than re-exports
Dutch domestic goods exports reached a total export value of 157 billion euros in the first half of 2021. This is 22 percent up on the same period one year previously and 9 percent higher than in the first half of 2019. Re-exports increased by 12 percent relative to 2020 and by 5 percent relative to 2019. One euro of domestic exports generated earnings of 56 eurocents on average for the Netherlands in 2020. This is four times as much as in re-exports.
Goods exports, first six months
Domestic exports (bn euros)
Re-exports (bn euros)
2019
144
113
2020
129
106
2021
157
119
Goods exports, first six months
Domestic exports (bn euros)
Re-exports (bn euros)
2019
144
113
2020
129
106
2021
157
119
Imports of virtually all goods close to 2019 levels again
In the first two quarters of 2021, imports of oil (products) and natural gas showed a substantial year-on-year rise: by 6.6 billion euros and 1.9 billion euros respectively. The coronavirus crisis still had a major impact on demand for goods throughout the first two quarters of 2020, when imports of transport equipment, clothing, and iron and steel fell sharply relative to the same period in 2019; by 2021, the import value of these goods rebounded to almost the same level as in the first half of 2019.
Goods imports, first six months
2021 (bn euros)
2020 (bn euros)
2019 (bn euros)
Oil and oil products
27.1
20.5
32.0
Transport equipment
15.4
11.8
15.2
Medicinal, pharmaceutical products
10.8
9.6
8.3
Computers, office equipment
10.1
9.5
9.6
Instruments and devices
7.7
6.7
6.8
Clothing
6.9
5.6
6.4
Fruit and vegetables
6.7
6.7
6.3
Specialised machinery
6.4
5.4
5.6
Natural gas
5.6
3.7
6.6
Iron and steel
5.1
4.1
5.0
Goods imports, first six months
2021 (bn euros)
2020 (bn euros)
2019 (bn euros)
Oil and oil products
27.1
20.5
32.0
Transport equipment
15.4
11.8
15.2
Medicinal, pharmaceutical products
10.8
9.6
8.3
Computers, office equipment
10.1
9.5
9.6
Instruments and devices
7.7
6.7
6.8
Clothing
6.9
5.6
6.4
Fruit and vegetables
6.7
6.7
6.3
Specialised machinery
6.4
5.4
5.6
Natural gas
5.6
3.7
6.6
Iron and steel
5.1
4.1
5.0
More information on trade flow interconnections between the Netherlands and the rest of the world up to 2020 inclusive can be found in the publication: Dutch Trade in Facts and Figures, 2021.
