Netherlands Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries

/ By Country / By

A country located in Western Europe, the Netherlands imported US$485.5 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That metric reflects a -5.7% reduction from $514.9 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of the Netherlands’ main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Dutch imports during 2020 for each of the Netherlands’ top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about two-thirds (66.3%) of total Dutch import purchases.

The country informally called Holland shares European land borders with economic powerhouse Germany and Belgium. The Netherlands also benefits from its coastline with the North Sea. The resulting geographic advantages bolsters the Netherlands’ strategic position in global trade.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Dutch imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Netherlands’ Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $85.6 billion or 17.6% of overall Thai imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 70.4% of the Netherlands’ imports from Germany.

  1. Machinery: $12.3 billion
  2. Vehicles: $9.3 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $7.3 billion
  4. Pharmaceuticals: $4.9 billion
  5. Plastics: $4.6 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $3.4 billion
  7. Mineral fuels including oil: $3.2 billion
  8. Iron and steel: $2.4 billion
  9. Other chemical goods: $2.3 billion
  10. Organic chemicals: $2.2 billion
  11. Iron or steel products: $1.9 billion
  12. Paper: $1.77 billion
  13. Dairy, eggs, honey: $1.76 billion
  14. Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.6 billion
  15. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.4 billion

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from Germany under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 11.7% gain in revenue and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 9.4%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -25.2%), organic chemicals (down -19.6%), electronic equipment (down -15.3%), unknitted and crocheted clothing (down -14.6%) then iron and steel as materials (down -11.4%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $51 billion or 10.5% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a 5.9% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.4% of the Netherlands’ imports from mainland China.

  1. Electronic equipment: $17.8 billion
  2. Machinery: $11.9 billion
  3. Furniture, lighting, signs: $2 billion
  4. Toys, games: $1.48 billion
  5. Organic chemicals: $1.46 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $1.43 billion
  7. Plastics: $1.32 billion
  8. Other textiles, worn clothing: $1.25 billion
  9. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.14 billion
  10. Knit or crochet clothing: $1.1 billion
  11. Iron or steel products: $1 billion
  12. Vehicles: $993 million
  13. Other chemical goods: $669.1 million
  14. Footwear: $560.1 million
  15. Leather, animal gut articles: $444.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 179.1% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 61.6%), medical or technical equipment (up 17.6%), plastics as a material (up 10.6%) then toys and games (up 9.5%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were footwear (down -25%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -20.4%), articles made from leather or animal gut (down -18.9%) then knitted and crocheted clothing (down -14.2%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from Belgium

In 2020, Belgium’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $47.4 billion or 9.8% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 63.8% of the Netherlands’ imports from Belgium.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $5.6 billion
  2. Vehicles: $4.7 billion
  3. Machinery: $3.2 billion
  4. Plastics: $2.7 billion
  5. Electronic equipment: $2.1 billion
  6. Organic chemicals: $2 billion
  7. Pharmaceuticals: $1.7 billion
  8. Other chemical goods: $1.54 billion
  9. Iron and steel: $1.5 billion
  10. Dairy, eggs, honey: $961 million
  11. Iron or steel products: $953.5 million
  12. Beverages: $905.8 million
  13. Medical, technical equipment: $892.5 million
  14. Furniture, lighting, signs: $823.5 million
  15. Footwear: $810.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from Belgium under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 24.8% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 23.8%) and electronic equipment (up 16.7%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -25.3%), vehicles (down -24.7%), organic chemicals (down -18.5%) then iron and steel as materials (down -17.8%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to the Netherlands amounted to $39.2 billion or 8.1% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90% of the Netherlands’ imports from America.

  1. Medical, technical equipment: $7.8 billion
  2. Machinery: $5.8 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $4.8 billion
  4. Mineral fuels including oil: $4.6 billion
  5. Pharmaceuticals: $3.6 billion
  6. Other chemical goods: $1.54 billion
  7. Organic chemicals: $1.46 billion
  8. Plastics: $1.44 billion
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $1 billion
  10. Vehicles: $801.8 million
  11. Oil seed: $761.3 million
  12. Perfumes, cosmetics: $552.5 million
  13. Other food preparations: $369.2 million
  14. Ores, slag, ash: $330.2 million
  15. Fruits, nuts: $293.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from the United States under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 31.6% gain in revenue, miscellaneous food preparations (up 23.4%) then perfumes and cosmetics (up 12.8%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -55.3%), ores, slag and ash (down -40.3%), vehicles (down -30.6%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -17%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $23 billion or 4.4% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79% of the Netherlands’ imports from Britain.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $7.1 billion
  2. Machinery: $2.3 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $1.7 billion
  4. Pharmaceuticals: $1.6 billion
  5. Vehicles: $885.8 million
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $831.5 million
  7. Organic chemicals: $778.3 million
  8. Plastics: $661.9 million
  9. Iron and steel: $387.2 million
  10. Other chemical goods: $384.9 million
  11. Beverages: $369.9 million
  12. Perfumes, cosmetics: $305.6 million
  13. Other food preparations: $296.2 million
  14. Iron or steel products: $270.9 million
  15. Meat: $249.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from the United Kingdom under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 5.7% gain in revenue and miscellaneous food preparations (up 2.7%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -33.3%), organic chemicals (down -22.6%), meat (down -20.2%), vehicles (down -15.8%), plastics as a material (down -14.6%) then items made from iron and steel (down -10.7%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $17 billion or 3.5% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 67.1% of the Netherlands’ imports from France.

  1. Electronic equipment: $1.9 billion
  2. Machinery: $1.5 billion
  3. Vehicles: $1.1 billion
  4. Medical, technical equipment: $988.6 million
  5. Cereals: $783 million
  6. Pharmaceuticals: $743.8 million
  7. Beverages: $741.9 million
  8. Plastics: $686 million
  9. Mineral fuels including oil: $678.7 million
  10. Organic chemicals: $509.6 million
  11. Other chemical goods: $503.7 million
  12. Dairy, eggs, honey: $423.6 million
  13. Paper: $312.2 million
  14. Perfumes, cosmetics: $299.2 million
  15. Iron and steel: $289.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from France under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 9.5% gain in revenue then dairy, eggs and honey (up 9.4%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -59%), vehicles (down -35.6%), cereals (down -20.7%), organic chemicals (down -18.9%) and machinery (down -10%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $13.2 billion or 2.7% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a 0.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 67.2% of the Netherlands’ imports from Italy.

  1. Machinery: $2 billion
  2. Pharmaceuticals: $1.3 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $1.2 billion
  4. Mineral fuels including oil: $605.7 million
  5. Plastics: $556.4 million
  6. Vehicles: $512.2 million
  7. Medical, technical equipment: $454.7 million
  8. Iron or steel products: $453.5 million
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $310.5 million
  10. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $292 million
  11. Beverages: $289.2 million
  12. Footwear: $271.2 million
  13. Other chemical goods: $248.6 million
  14. Furniture, lighting, signs: $238.2 million
  15. Knit or crochet clothing: $223.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from Italy under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 299.2% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 37.2%) and pharmaceuticals (up 18%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -32.8%) and products made from iron or steel (down -8.8%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from Russia

In 2020, Russia’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $10.9 billion or 2.2% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a -38.0% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.4% of the Netherlands’ imports from Russia.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $9.4 billion
  2. Iron and steel: $209 million
  3. Copper: $195.8 million
  4. Nickel: $191.5 million
  5. Wood: $144.4 million
  6. Organic chemicals: $123.3 million
  7. Inorganic chemicals: $107.8 million
  8. Fish: $76.5 million
  9. Aluminum: $58.2 million
  10. Machinery: $40.3 million
  11. Electronic equipment: $32.4 million
  12. Food waste, animal fodder: $29.3 million
  13. Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $27.2 million
  14. Aircraft, spacecraft: $20.3 million
  15. Ores, slag, ash: $18.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from Russia under the food waste and animal fodder product category via a 76.1% gain in revenue, animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 47.9%), aircraft and spacecraft (up 33%), nickel (up 20.4%), electronic equipment (up 10.3%) and wood (also up 10.3%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were aluminum (down -71.2%), organic chemicals (down -46.4%), copper (down -44.6%), mineral fuels including oil (down -40.1%), ores, slag and ash (down -31%) and machinery (down -23.1%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from Ireland

In 2020, Ireland’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $10.3 billion or 2.1% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a -0.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.1% of the Netherlands’ imports from Ireland.

  1. Medical, technical equipment: $2.8 billion
  2. Electronic equipment: $2.6 billion
  3. Pharmaceuticals: $2.1 billion
  4. Machinery: $870.7 million
  5. Dairy, eggs, honey: $415.6 million
  6. Meat: $220.7 million
  7. Perfumes, cosmetics: $159.8 million
  8. Cereal, milk preparations:$142.6 million
  9. Organic chemicals: $140.9 million
  10. Other food preparations: $105.8 million
  11. Other chemical goods: $86.4 million
  12. Mineral fuels including oil: $80.4 million
  13. Plastics: $78.2 million
  14. Modified starches, enzymes: $49.9 million
  15. Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $48.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from Ireland under the cereal or milk preparations product category via a 60.6% gain in revenue, modified starches and enzymes (up 32.6%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 25.2%), pharmaceuticals (up 24.3%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 23.4%) and mineral fuels including oil (up 15.9%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -69.7%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -26.6%), dairy, eggs and honey (down -14.6%) then medical or technical equipment (down -12.6%).

Netherlands’ Main Imports from Poland

In 2020, Poland’s exports to the Netherlands amounted to $10.3 billion or 2.1% of overall Dutch imports.

That dollar amount represents a 1.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 70.7% of the Netherlands’ imports from Poland.

  1. Electronic equipment: $1.4 billion
  2. Machinery: $1.2 billion
  3. Furniture, lighting, signs: $921.6 million
  4. Vehicles: $676.4 million
  5. Plastics: $599.4 million
  6. Meat: $402.8 million
  7. Mineral fuels including oil: $330.1 million
  8. Iron or steel products: $314.5 million
  9. Aluminum: $250.3 million
  10. Tobacco: $223.8 million
  11. Paper: $194.3 million
  12. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $186.5 million
  13. Wood: $176.1 million
  14. Other food preparations: $174 million
  15. Medical, technical equipment: $172.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Dutch imports from Poland under the unknitted and non-crocheted clothing product category via a 85.7% gain in revenue, miscellaneous food preparations (up 31.2%), medical or technical equipment (up 22.1%), wood (up 17.7%), plastics as a material (up 16%) and products made from iron or steel (up 12%).

Posting the severest declines among the Netherlands’ top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -61.2%), tobacco (down -29.7%) and vehicles (down -15.4%).

See also

More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Germany’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Netherlands, Borders of the Netherlands

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

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