Year over year, the total cost from the Netherlands’ spending on imports accelerated by 18.7% from $710.8 billion in 2022.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, the Netherlands uses the euro which depreciated by -3.5% against the US dollar since 2019 but appreciated by 2.6% from 2022 to 2023. The weaker European Union currency after 2019 made Dutch imports paid for in stronger US dollars in 2023 relatively more expensive when converted starting from euros.
Major Suppliers for Imports into the Netherlands
The latest available country-specific data shows that 66% of products imported by the Netherlands was furnished by exporters in: mainland China (15.1% of the Dutch total), Germany (14%), United States of America (9.7%), Belgium (7.9%), United Kingdom (4.1%), France (2.8%), Italy (2.29%), Ireland (2.27%), Norway (2.15%), Taiwan (2.05%), Poland (2%) and Japan (1.64%).
From a continental perspective, about half (49.9%) of the Netherlands’ total imports by value in 2023 were purchased from fellow European countries. Trading partners in Asia supplied another 30.9% of import demand from the Netherlands, while another 11.3% worth originated from exporters in North America.
The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union. Fellow EU members furnished 45.2% of total purchases of imports by the Netherlands.
Smaller percentages originated from Latin America (3.7%) excluding Mexico plus the Caribbean, Africa (3.5%), and Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given Netherlands’ population of 17.7 million people, its total $843.7 billion in 2023 imports translates to roughly $47,700 in yearly product demand from every person in the key European Union country. That average dollar metric lags the average $51,000 per capital for 2022.
Netherlands Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Netherlands’ import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Netherlands.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$161.2 billion (19.1% of total imports)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $125.1 billion (14.8%)
- Machinery including computers: $102.8 billion (12.2%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $46.2 billion (5.5%)
- Vehicles: $42.6 billion (5.1%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $42.3 billion (5%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $20.2 billion (2.4%)
- Organic chemicals: $17.7 billion (2.1%)
- Other chemical goods: $16.1 billion (1.9%)
- Iron, steel: $15.2 billion (1.8%)
Netherlands’ top 10 imports generated well over two-thirds (69.9%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Imports of pharmaceuticals recorded the fastest increase in value among the Netherlands’ top 10 import categories, up 90.8% from 2022 to 2023.
In second place for improving import purchases was the electrical machinery and equipment category, up 65.4%.
Electrical machinery and equipment imported into the Netherlands increased in total cost by 60.7% year over year.
In third place were Dutch imports of machinery including computers, up 45% from 2022.
The severest decliners among the Netherlands’ top imports were mineral fuels including oil (down -9.8% from 2022), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -9.1%), then imports of organic chemicals (down -7.4%).
Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.
Major Mineral Fuels Imported into the Netherlands
In 2023, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Crude oil: US$65.6 billion (up 11.8% from 2022)
- Processed petroleum oils: $34.3 billion (down -11.9%)
- Petroleum gases: $25.5 billion (down -9%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $6.2 billion (up 112.9%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $5.7 billion (down -9%)
- Electrical energy: $2.1 billion (2022 data unavailable)
- Petroleum oil residues: $503.9 million (down -7.3%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $298.9 million (up 5.2%)
- Peat: $191.7 million (down -6.6%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $102.9 million (up 148.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of coke or semi-coke (up 148.8%), coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 112.9%), then crude oil (up 11.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported fossil fuel-related products among Dutch businesses and consumers.
Major Electrical Items Imported into the Netherlands
In 2023, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics.
- Phone devices including smartphones: US$42.1 billion (up 66.4% from 2022)
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $17.3 billion (up 203.9%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $12.6 billion (up 144.1%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $9 billion (up 65.7%)
- Electric storage batteries: $5.7 billion (up 108.5%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $5.2 billion (up 18.3%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $3.5 billion (up 17.8%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $3.12 billion (up 10.5%)
- TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras: $2.31 billion (up 36.7%)
- Microphones/headphones/amplifiers: $2.2 billion (up 39.6%)
Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of electronic integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 203.9%), solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 144.1%), then electric storage batteries (up 108.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Dutch businesses and consumers.
Major Machinery Imported into the Netherlands Including Computers
In 2023, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$39.8 billion (up 122.8% from 2022)
- Machinery for making semi-conductors: $7.1 billion (up 24.6%)
- Printing machinery: $6.7 billion (up 12.2%)
- Computer parts, accessories: $4.8 billion (up 30.2%)
- Turbo-jets: $3.8 billion (up 49.6%)
- Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $3.5 billion (up 33.6%)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $2.31 billion (up 9.4%)
- Machinery parts: $2.31 billion (up 16.6%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $2 billion (up 6.5%)
- Refrigerators, freezers: $1.9 billion (up 10.7%)
Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of computers including optical readers (up 122.8%), turbo-jets (up 49.6%), then heavy machinery including bulldozers and excavators (up 33.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machines among Dutch businesses and consumers.
Major Pharmaceuticals Imported into the Netherlands
In 2023, Dutch importers spent the most on the following subcategories of pharmaceutical products.
- Medication mixes in dosage: US$20.9 billion (up 61.2% from 2022)
- Blood fractions (including antisera): $20.9 billion (up 220.8%)
- Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods: $2.6 billion (up 18.5%)
- Packaged dressings: $819.1 million (up 15.8%)
- Medication mixes not in dosage: $604.2 million (up 164.7%)
- Dried organs, heparin: $247 million (down -1.4%)
Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of blood fractions including antisera (up 220.8%), medication mixes not in dosage (up 164.7%), then medication mixes in dosage (up 61.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2022 to 2023.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported pharmaceuticals among Dutch businesses and consumers.
See also Netherlands Top 10 Exports, Netherlands Top 10 Major Export Companies and Netherlands Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on April 14, 2024
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on April 14, 2024
IMPORTERS.com The Online Market for G20 Importers, Netherlands Import Export Directory. Accessed on April 14, 2024
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on April 14, 2024
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on April 14, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 14, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 14, 2024
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on April 14, 2024
Wikipedia, List of Companies of the Netherlands. Accessed on April 14, 2024
Wikipedia, Netherlands. Accessed on April 14, 2024
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on April 14, 2024