Dutch trade net surplus reaches 31.9 bln euros in 2016

The net surplus (excluding re-exports) arising from export of Dutch-made goods and imports for the Dutch market rose from 17.9 billion euros (19.53 billion U.S. dollars) in 2006 to 31.9 billion euros in 2016, announced Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on Monday.

Examples of Dutch-produced goods causing a sharp increase in the net trade surplus include agricultural goods and chip equipment.

The total trade surplus reached 52 billion euros if the substantial re-export flows are taken into account. The CBS stressed that "re-exports generate relatively little revenue for the Netherlands."

Out of every euro of export value, approximately 11 eurocents are earned in re-exports. Direct exports of domestically produced goods yield around 57 eurocents per euro of export value, according to CBS.

Re-exports refer to goods manufactured abroad and imported by the Netherlands which are subsequently exported without undergoing much, if any, industrial processing.

A considerable part of Dutch imports from Asia or the United States is transferred via the Netherlands to the European hinterland, such as tablets or mobile phones originating from Asia and reaching Germany or France with an intermediate stop in the Netherlands.

After correction for re-exports, "the Dutch trade surplus with Europe excluding re-exports is substantially lower and Dutch trade deficits with the United States and Asia even fully disappear," said CBS.

The trade surplus with European countries including re-exports amounts to 101 billion euros, against 27 billion euros if re-exports are excluded. Enditem