2023-06-13 06:51:06
Exports of Dutch goods to countries close to Russia more than doubled last year. This includes trucks and buses, but also flowers and plants. Exports to Russia itself, on the other hand, fell sharply.
Figures from Statistics Netherlands show that exports to countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia have more than doubled in one year. Exports from our country also rose sharply to other countries close to Russia.
In February last year, Russia invaded Ukraine. As a result, trade between Western countries and Russia fell sharply. But it is suspected that many Western goods still reach the Russians via a detour. This detour often runs through countries in Central Asia or the Caucasus region, for example. This also seems to be happening with Dutch products.
This does not mean that sanctions are being circumvented en masse. For example, it concerns plants and flowers that are not banned. Legal restrictions are not always set for vehicles and parts either. However, companies often receive social criticism when they trade with Russia.
In addition to home-grown products, a lot of re-exports also went to neighboring Russian countries last year. These are goods that, for example, are transported from China to the Netherlands and from here to neighboring Russian countries. This includes products such as mobile phones and laptops.
Exports to Russia fell sharply
Exports to Russia therefore suffered a major blow last year. It fell by no less than 37 percent. As a result, the country dropped from 18th to 29th place in the ranking of most important exporting countries.
Germany has been at the top of that list for years. Exports to our eastern neighbors increased by no less than 53 billion euros. Total Dutch exports also rose sharply, by 170.4 billion euros (+30 percent). This extreme increase is almost entirely due to higher prices, for example of oil and coal. The volume last year was only a few percent higher than two years ago.
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