In February 2021, the total volume of goods exports was up by 2.8 percent year on year, as reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In the previous month, exports grew by 3.3 percent. The increase over February was mainly seen in exports of metal products and transport equipment. The volume of goods imports was up by 1.0 percent year on year. The CBS Exports Radar indicates that circumstances for exports in April are less favourable than in February.
Conditions for exports in April less favourable than in February
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 less favourable than in February. Producer confidence in not just Germany but across the entire Eurozone have deteriorated significantly. Opinions among Dutch and other European manufacturers about their foreign order position were also less positive.