Dutch Trade Surplus Widens in July

The Netherlands’ trade surplus widened to EUR 10.9 billion in July 2026 from EUR 9.0 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 13.6% year-on-year to EUR 75.2 billion, driven by higher shipments to both the EU (+9.2%) and non-EU countries (+12.5%). Among commodities, outbound shipments increased the most for animal and vegetable oils and fats (+33.3%), machinery and equipment (+26.3%), mineral fuels and lubricants (+20.2%), and chemical products (+15.9%). Meanwhile, imports grew 8.9% to EUR 62.2 billion, lifted by increased purchases from both the EU (+7.5%) and non-EU countries (+10.2%). Import growth was supported by machinery and equipment (+19.5%), animal and vegetable oils and fats (+19.4%), mineral fuels and lubricants (+12.7%), and beverages and tobacco (+12.7%). In the January–July period, the Dutch trade surplus stood at EUR 67.0 billion, as exports rose 5.6%, while imports grew 4.8%.

The Netherlands’ trade surplus widened to EUR 10.4 billion in June 2026 from EUR 10.1 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 9.4% year-on-year to EUR 71.7 billion, driven largely by higher shipments to both the EU (+14.0%) and non-EU countries (+2.7%). Among commodities, outbound shipments increased the most for chemical products (+21.7%), machinery and equipment (+18.1%), raw materials, non-edible, except fuels (+13.0%), and miscellaneous manufactured goods (+5.5%). Meanwhile, imports grew 10.5% to EUR 61.3 billion, lifted by increased purchases from both the EU (+12.0%) and non-EU countries (+9.2%). Import growth was supported by food and live animals (+3.4%), beverages and tobacco (+16.5%), mineral fuels and lubricants (+17.0%), and animal and vegetable oils and fats (+22.1%). In the January–June period, the Dutch trade surplus stood at EUR 53.3 billion, as exports rose only 0.7%, while imports grew 2.9%.

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%.