Exports down by nearly 2 percent in March

17/05/2022 15:00

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

In March 2022, the total volume of goods exports was down by 1.9 percent year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In the previous month, exports grew by 1.5 percent. The decrease over March was mainly seen in exports of petroleum products, agricultural products and vessels. Exports of machinery, chemical products and metal products, on the other hand, were higher than in March 2021. The volume of goods imports was down by 2.2 percent year on year. Imports of minerals and aircraft decreased in particular.

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

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year	Month	%-change (year-on-year %-change)
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	2.3
2021	February	2.9
2021	March	10.9
2021	April	23.8
2021	May	20.2
2021	June	13.1
2021	July	9.4
2021	August	8.5
2021	September	5
2021	October	-0.5
2021	November	8.3
2021	December	7.8
2022	January	3.1
2022	February	1.5
2022	March	-1.9

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year	Month	%-change (year-on-year %-change)
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	2.3
2021	February	2.9
2021	March	10.9
2021	April	23.8
2021	May	20.2
2021	June	13.1
2021	July	9.4
2021	August	8.5
2021	September	5
2021	October	-0.5
2021	November	8.3
2021	December	7.8
2022	January	3.1
2022	February	1.5
2022	March	-1.9

Conditions for exports in May less favourable than in March

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 less favourable than in March. Producer confidence in not just Germany but across the entire euro area has deteriorated significantly. Furthermore, the decline in German manufacturing output was more substantial.

From January 2022 onwards, CBS applies new methodology in the monitoring and processing of data for the International trade statistic. As a result, the year-on-year development of imports and exports has a greater uncertainty margin than is customary.

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

Sources

StatLine - Imports/exports; change of ownership; volume and price, changes

Conditions for exports in May less favourable than in March

Sources

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