The trade surplus in the Netherlands widened to EUR 7.0 billion in November of 2018 from EUR 5.2 billion in the same month of the previous year. It was the largest trade surplus since May 1993, as exports rose more than imports. Exports went up 5.8 percent from a year earlier to EUR 44.7 billion, mainly due to sales of fuels & lubricants (21.1%); machinery & transport equipment (4.4%); chemicals (3.9%), and manufactured goods (2.8%). Exports to the EU increased 5.5 percent while those to countries outside the EU rose 6.5 percent. Imports advanced at a softer 1.7 percent to EUR 37.7 billion, boosted by purchases of fuels & lubricants (1.7%); machinery & transport equipment (3.0%); manufactured goods (4.1%). Imports from the EU decreased 2.4 percent and those from countries outside the EU went up 7.0 percent. Considering January-November 2018, the surplus was recorded at EUR 49.5, compared to a EUR 54.9 billion surplus in the same period of 2017. Balance of Trade in Netherlands averaged 1159.22 EUR Million from 1960 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 6983 EUR Million in November of 2018 and a record low of -907.60 EUR Million in May of 1993.
Balance of Trade in Netherlands is expected to be 6700.00 EUR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Balance of Trade in Netherlands to stand at 4780.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Netherlands Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 5050.00 EUR Million in 2020, according to our econometric models.