Netherlands imported US$504.1 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2016, up by 31.9% since 2009 and up by 18.6% from 2015 to 2016.

Netherlands’ top 10 imports accounted for about two-thirds (65.3%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Dutch imports represent 3.1% of total global imports which totaled $16.473 trillion one year earlier in 2015.

From a continental perspective, 52.5% of Netherlands’ total imports by value in 2016 were purchased from other European countries. Asian trading partners supplied 29.2% of import purchases by the Netherlands, while 8.5% worth originated from North American exporters. A smaller percentage, 2.3% originated from Africa.

Given Netherlands’ population of 17 million people, its total $504.1 billion in 2016 imports translates to roughly $29,600 in yearly product demand from every person in the country.

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Netherlands’ import purchases during 2016. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Netherlands.

1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$74.4 billion (14.8% of total imports)
2. Mineral fuels including oil: $69.6 billion (13.8%)
3. Machinery including computers: $65.3 billion (13%)
4. Vehicles : $28.5 billion (5.6%)
5. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $22.3 billion (4.4%)
6. Pharmaceuticals: $22.1 billion (4.4%)
7. Organic chemicals: $14.8 billion (2.9%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $14.6 billion (2.9%)
9. Iron, steel: $9.9 billion (2%)
10. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $7.7 billion (1.5%)

Imported knit or crochet clothing and accessories had the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, up 98.2% for the 7-year period starting in 2009.

Close behind in second place for improving import sales were electrical machinery and equipment, up 98.1%. Dutch imports of vehicles delivered the third-fastest gain at 66.6%.

Pharmaceuticals was the sole declining category, dropping -11.8%.

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.

In 2016, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products:

1. Crude oil: US$29.3 billion (up 13%)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $24.2 billion (up 23.9%)
3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $4 billion (up 106%)
4. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $1.9 billion (up 2.1%)
5. Petroleum gases: $1.6 billion (up 121.8%)
6. Electrical energy: $967.2 million (down -13.6%)
7. Petroleum oil residues: $274.1 million (down -21.1%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $145.8 million (up 18.3%)
9. Peat: $100.2 million (up 5.2%)
10. Coke, semi-coke: $56.5 million (up 169.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of coke or semi-coke (up 169.6%), petroleum gases (up 121.8%) and coal or solid fuels made from coal (up 106%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported fossil fuel among Dutch businesses and consumers.

In 2016, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers:

1. Computers, optical readers: US$22.2 billion (up 75.1%)
2. Printing machinery: $7.9 billion (down -9.2%)
3. Computer parts, accessories: $2.8 billion (down -65.1%)
4. Turbo-jets: $2.6 billion (up 5.6%)
5. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $2 billion (up 453.1%)
6. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $1.6 billion (up 163.3%)
7. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.3 billion (up 14%)
8. Air or vacuum pumps: $1.2 billion (up 30.7%)
9. Machinery parts: $1.2 billion (down -5.4%)
10. Piston engine parts: $1.2 billion (up 4.8%)

Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of machinery for making semi-conductors (up 453.1%), heavy machinery (up 163.3%) and computers and optical readers (up 75.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

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.

In 2016, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles:

1. Cars: US$10.7 billion (up 25.9%)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $4 billion (up 25%)
3. Trucks: $2.7 billion (up 77%)
4. Automobile bodies: $1.5 billion (up 258.6%)
5. Motorcycles: $952.1 million (up 43.3%)
6. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $855.9 million (up 34%)
7. Tractors: $840.6 million (up 28.4%)
8. Trailers: $725.8 million (up 49.7%)
9. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $412.1 million (up 18.8%)
10. Special purpose vehicles: $209.1 million (down -24.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of automobile bodies (up 258.6%), trucks (up 77%) and trailers (up 49.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Dutch businesses and consumers.