The value of goods imported to and exported form the Netherlands was lower in August this year than in the same month last year. According to figures just released by Statistics Netherlands, exports were 4 percent down at nearly 18 billion euro and imports 9 percent euro lower at 15 billion euro.
Imports have been falling faster than exports for quite a time now, and this trend continued into August. As a consequence the balance of trade for August was 60 percent higher than twelve months previously.
International trade with EU countries down
The Netherlands exported more than 13 billion euro worth of goods to EU countries in August 2002, 6 percent less than in August 2001. Imports from EU countries were worth nearly 9 billion euro in August , 4 percent less than one year previously. The balance of trade with countries in the EU was nearly 5 billion euro in August 2002.
Sharp drop for imports from outside the EU
Exports to non-EU countries were 4 percent higher than in the same period twelve months previously, at just over 4 billion euro. Imports were 15 percent down on August last year at nearly 7 billion euro. The trade deficit with non-EU countries for August 2001 was just over 2 billion euro.
(source: Statistics Netherlands)
