The Netherlands’ trade surplus narrowed to EUR 6.7 billion in May 2026 from EUR 9.9 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marked the smallest surplus since April 2023, as import rose 8.3% year-on-year to EUR 59.2 billion, driven by higher purchases from both EU countries (7.1%) and non-EU countries (9.3%). Among commodities, inbound shipments increased the most for mineral fuels and lubricants (+39.4%), chemical products (+8.0%), animal and vegetable oils (+6.5%), and beverages and tobacco (+3.3%). Meanwhile, exports increased at a slower pace of 2.1% to EUR 65.8 billion, attributed to stronger shipments to EU countries (7.3%), while exports to non-EU countries fell 5.7%. Export growth was primarily driven by mineral fuels and lubricants (+40.5%), chemical products (+9.5%), and raw materials (+7.0%). In the first five months of the year, the Dutch trade surplus stood at EUR 43.5 billion, as exports fell 0.8% while imports rose 1.4%. source: Statistics Netherlands

Netherlands recorded a trade surplus of 6655 EUR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Netherlands averaged 2103.81 EUR Million from 1960 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 13583.00 EUR Million in September of 2023 and a record low of -907.60 EUR Million in May of 1993. This page provides the latest reported value for - Netherlands Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Netherlands Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Netherlands recorded a trade surplus of 6655 EUR Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in Netherlands is expected to be 10700.00 EUR Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Netherlands Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 10400.00 EUR Million in 2027 and 10500.00 EUR Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-15 04:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr €7.96B €10.74B €11.2B
2026-07-13 04:30 AM
Balance of Trade
May €6.66B €7.74B €11.2B
2026-08-14 04:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Jun €6.66B € 11.4B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 6655.00 7736.00 EUR Million May 2026
Exports 65829.00 66954.00 EUR Million May 2026
Imports 59174.00 59217.00 EUR Million May 2026
Terms of Trade 96.90 98.90 points May 2026


Netherlands Balance of Trade
The Netherlands is an export-oriented economy and derives more than two-thirds of its GDP from the merchandise trade. Main exports are: machinery and transport equipment (28 percent of total exports), mineral fuels (23 percent), food (11 percent), clothing and footwear (10 percent) and pharmaceuticals (5 percent). Netherlands main imports are: fuel (29 percent of total imports), machinery (26 percent) and food and live animals (8.6 percent). Main trading partners are Germany (24 percent of total exports and 17 percent of imports) and Belgium (12 percent of exports and 10 percent imports). Others include: China, France, United Kingdom and United States.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
6655.00 7736.00 13583.00 -907.60 1960 - 2026 EUR Million Monthly

News Stream
Dutch Trade Surplus Smallest in 3 Years
The Netherlands’ trade surplus narrowed to EUR 6.7 billion in May 2026 from EUR 9.9 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marked the smallest surplus since April 2023, as import rose 8.3% year-on-year to EUR 59.2 billion, driven by higher purchases from both EU countries (7.1%) and non-EU countries (9.3%). Among commodities, inbound shipments increased the most for mineral fuels and lubricants (+39.4%), chemical products (+8.0%), animal and vegetable oils (+6.5%), and beverages and tobacco (+3.3%). Meanwhile, exports increased at a slower pace of 2.1% to EUR 65.8 billion, attributed to stronger shipments to EU countries (7.3%), while exports to non-EU countries fell 5.7%. Export growth was primarily driven by mineral fuels and lubricants (+40.5%), chemical products (+9.5%), and raw materials (+7.0%). In the first five months of the year, the Dutch trade surplus stood at EUR 43.5 billion, as exports fell 0.8% while imports rose 1.4%.
2026-07-13
Dutch Trade Surplus Smallest in 8 Months
The Netherlands’ trade surplus narrowed to almost EUR 8.0 billion in April 2026 from EUR 8.6 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marks the smallest trade surplus since August last year, as imports rose faster than exports. Imports advanced 7.6% year-on-year to EUR 59.8 billion, reflecting higher purchases from both EU (5.7% vs 5.6% in March) and non-EU (9.3% vs 4.4%) countries. Among commodities, inbound shipments rose the most for mineral fuels and lubricants (+40.3%), chemical products (+7.9%), and beverages and tobacco (+4.4%). Meanwhile, exports rose 5.6% to EUR 67.7 billion, as sales grew from both EU (7.0% vs 7.9%) and non-EU (3.3% vs -6.5%) markets. Exports increased primarily for mineral fuels and lubricants (+31.5%), animal and vegetable oils (+16%), and beverages and tobacco (+4.7%). In the first three months of the year, the Dutch trade surplus stood at EUR 37.7 million, as exports fell 0.6% while imports rose 0.3%.
2026-06-15
Dutch Trade Surplus Widens in February
The Netherlands’ trade surplus widened to EUR 9.90 billion in February 2026 from EUR 9.45 billion a year earlier, as exports declined at a slower pace than imports. Exports fell 4.0% year-on-year to EUR 61.44 billion, reflecting lower sales to non-EU countries (-12.1%), while exports to EU countries rose 1.4%. Among commodities, outbound shipments declined most for mineral fuels and lubricants (-11.1%), beverages and tobacco (-8%), food and live animals (-5.6%), and raw materials (-3.8%). Meanwhile, imports dropped at a faster pace of 5.5% to EUR 51.54 billion, as purchases fell from both EU (-1.3%) and non-EU (-9.3%) markets. Arrivals were sharply lower for mineral fuels and lubricants (-22.4%) and, to a lesser extent, for miscellaneous manufactured goods (-5.9%). In the first two months of the year, the Dutch trade surplus stood at EUR 19.45 billion, as exports declined 4.8% while imports fell 5.8%.
2026-04-13