Exports up by almost 6 percent in February

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© ANP / Olaf Kraak Fotografie
In February 2023, the total volume of goods exports was up by 5.8 percent year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase was mainly seen in exports of petroleum products, machinery and appliances, and transport equipment. The volume of goods imports was up by 3.7 percent relative to February 2022.

The CBS Exports Radar indicates that circumstances for exports in April are more favourable than in February.

Exports of goods (volume, adjusted for working days)
Year Month%-change (year-on-year %-change)
2019March1
2019April1.1
2019May-0.7
2019June-0.2
2019July-1
2019August2.6
2019September0.5
2019October5
2019November1.2
2019December3.3
2020January3
2020February0.8
2020March-5.3
2020April-13.1
2020May-12.1
2020June-3.3
2020July-0.1
2020August-3.6
2020September0.5
2020October2.7
2020November1.3
2020December-0.6
2021January2.6
2021February2.8
2021March10.7
2021April23.7
2021May20.1
2021June12.9
2021July8.9
2021August8.3
2021September4.6
2021October-1
2021November7.6
2021December6.7
2022January0.6
2022February0.8
2022March-0.9
2022April0
2022May2.1
2022June4.9
2022July0.3
2022August-0.2
2022September4.3
2022October8.8
2022November5
2022December4.3
2023January4.8
2023February5.8

Conditions for exports in April more favourable

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 April are more favourable than in February. This is mainly because the year-on-year contraction in German manufacturing output turned into growth. In addition, the development of the real effective exchange rate was more favourable.

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

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