Live animal exports stood at 1.8 billion euros in 2020

Pigs represented the highest export value at 795 million euros, followed by poultry (310 million euros). Most live animals are exported to other European countries. Exports to Germany are the highest, at nearly 742 million euros. With over 70 percent, the bulk of this amount is on account of pig exports. Almost half of exports to Belgium (total value of 276 million euros) consist of cattle.

Outside Europe, exports of live animals to the United States are the highest. This country ranks third among the most important export markets. This is mainly due to the high export value of horses, donkeys and mules (142 million euros). Spain and Italy complete the top five of destination countries for live animal transport.

Mainly imports of live poultry

As for live animal imports, neighbouring countries Germany and Belgium are also the most important trade partners. The top ten countries with the highest import value are exclusively European. Last year, the import value of live animals stood at 1.1 billion euros, mostly poultry (601 million euros). Of these imports, 574 million euros (51 percent) came from Germany and 332 million euros (29 percent) from Belgium. Poultry accounted for 71 percent of the value of imports from Germany.

Pig imports represent a much lower value than pig exports. Pigs are mainly imported from Belgium (50 million euros), Denmark (33 million euros) and Germany (23 million euros).

42 million kilometres by road

Live animals are mainly transported by road. In 2020, Dutch hauliers travelled 41.9 million kilometres carrying live animals, 64 percent of which within the Netherlands.
In addition to road transport, a small proportion of live animals were transported by planes or seagoing vessels. Last year, this involved over 16 thousand aircraft movements. No figures are available on the number of sea transport movements involving live animals. Animals transported by air include horses, poultry and pets such as dogs and cats. In contrast to road or maritime transport, transportation of pets in the cargo hold by individuals is also included in the figures for aviation.

Average animal transport journey at 111 kilometres

In 2020, Dutch hauliers made more than 376 thousand live animal transport journeys on Dutch (301 thousand) and international roads (75 thousand). A live animal journey by road amounted to 111 kilometres, on average. The journeys within Dutch borders averaged 76 kilometres, while partially or fully international journeys averaged 254 kilometres.