Netherlands spent US$636.9 billion on imported products from around the world in 2024, expanding by 31.6% compared to $484.1 billion five years earlier during 2020.

Year over year, the total cost from the Netherlands’ spending on imports fell by -4.1% from $664.1 billion in 2023.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the Netherlands uses the euro which flatlined via a 0.02% gain against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. The slightly stronger European Union currency made Dutch imports paid for in weaker US dollars in 2024 relatively less expensive when converted starting from euros.

Major Suppliers for Imports into the Netherlands

The latest available country-specific data shows that 66.7% of products imported by the Netherlands was furnished by exporters in: Germany (16.6% of the Dutch total), United States of America (10.2%), Belgium (10%), mainland China (8.6%), United Kingdom (4.6%), France (3.5%), Italy (2.55%), Norway (2.43%), Ireland (2.37%), Poland (2.3%), Spain (1.8%) and Sweden (1.6%).

From a continental perspective, well over half (57%) of the Netherlands’ total imports by value in 2024 was purchased from fellow European countries. Trading partners in Asia supplied another 24% of import demand from the Netherlands, while another 11.2% worth originated from exporters in North America.

The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union. Fellow EU members furnished 52.6% of total purchases of imports by the Netherlands.
br>Smaller percentages originated from Latin America (4.2%) excluding Mexico plus the Caribbean, Africa (3.1%) and Oceania (0.4%) led by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Given Netherlands’ population of 17.9 million people, its total US$636.9 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $35,500 in yearly product demand from every person in the key European Union country. That average dollar metric lags the average $47,700 per capital for 2023.

Netherlands Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Netherlands’ import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Netherlands.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$112.4 billion (17.6% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $75.9 billion (11.9%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $70.6 billion (11.1%)
4. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $39.2 billion (6.2%)
5. Vehicles: $34.4 billion (5.4%)
6. Pharmaceuticals: $29.8 billion (4.7%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $17.8 billion (2.8%)
8. Organic chemicals: $16 billion (2.5%)
9. Other chemical goods: $13.4 billion (2.1%)
10. Iron, steel: $9.6 billion (1.5%)

The Netherlands’ top 10 import product categories generated nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imports of optical, technical and medical apparatus recorded the fastest increase in value among the Netherlands’ top 10 import categories, up 6.2% from 2023 to 2024.

In second place for expanding import purchases was the machinery including computers category, up 5.5%.

Pharmaceuticals imported into the Netherlands increased in total cost by 3.1% year over year.

The severest decliners among the Netherlands’ top imports were mineral fuels including oil (down -21.9% from 2023), the metals iron and steel (down -10.8%), then imports of miscellaneous chemical goods (down -9.6%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the sections below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Major Mineral Fuels Imported into the Netherlands

In 2024, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.

1. Crude oil: US$49 billion (down -11.1% from 2023)
2. Processed petroleum oils: $31.6 billion (down -2.2%)
3. Petroleum gases: $12.9 billion (down -49.2%)
4. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $5.2 billion (up 4.5%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1.5 billion (down -34.1%)
6. Electrical energy: $636 million (2023 data unavailable)
7. Petroleum oil residues: $410.7 million (down -15.9%)
8. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $284.6 million (down -2.3%)
9. Peat: $167.3 million (down -9.2%)
10. Coke, semi-coke: $44.5 million (down -24.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of high-temperature distilled coal tar oils was the lone gainer from 2023 to 2024 thanks to its 4.5% upturn.

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 Machinery Imported into the Netherlands Including Computers

In 2024, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$21.1 billion (up 27% from 2023)
2. Machinery for making semi-conductors: $7.8 billion (up 9.9%)
3. Printing machinery: $5.6 billion (down -2.3%)
4. Computer parts, accessories: $4.9 billion (up 40.2%)
5. Turbo-jets: $3.2 billion (up 0.2%)
6. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $2.1 billion (down -2.5%)
7. Machinery parts: $1.86 billion (down -10.6%)
8. Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.80 billion (down -4%)
9. Piston engine parts: $1.7 billion (up 4.8%)
10. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.7 billion (up 8.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of computer parts or accessories (up 40.2%), computers or optical readers (up 27%), then machinery for making semi-conductors (up 9.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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 Electrical Items Imported into the Netherlands

In 2024, Dutch importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$23.9 billion (down -1.9% from 2023)
2. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $4.7 billion (down -5.9%)
3. Electrical converters/power units: $4.6 billion (down -24.9%)
4. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $4.3 billion (up 16%)
5. Electric storage batteries: $3.2 billion (up 0.2%)
6. Insulated wire/cable: $3.1 billion (down -0.2%)
7. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $2.54 billion (down -39.9%)
8. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.46 billion (down -10.7%)
9. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $2.3 billion (up 16.9%)
10. Unrecorded sound media: $1.8 billion (up 58.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of unrecorded sound media (up 58.6%), electric water heaters and hair dryers (up 16.9%), then television receivers, monitors and projectors (up 16%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

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 Imports of Optical, Technical and Medical Apparatus into the Netherlands

In 2024, Dutch importers spent the most on the following subcategories of optical, technical and medical apparatus.

1. Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays): US$15.1 billion (up 10.8% from 2023)
2. Orthopedic appliances: $9.7 billion (up 6.1%)
3. Physical/chemical analysis tools: $2.3 billion (up 13%)
4. Lenses, prisms, mirrors: $1.47 billion (up 0.8%)
5. Other measuring/testing machines: $1.46 billion (up 19.8%)
6. X-ray equipment: $1.4 billion (down -4.1%)
7. Mechano-therapy appliances: $979.2 million (down -13.7%)
8. Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates: $892.5 million (down -3%)
9. Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools: $791.9 million (up 19.2%)
10. Liquid/gas checking instruments: $711.8 million (down -12.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Dutch purchases of miscellaneous measuring or testing machines (up 19.8%), liquid crystal, laser and optical tools (up 19.2%), then physical and chemical analysis tools (up 13%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported optical, technical and medical apparatus 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 May 11, 2025

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on May 11, 2025

IMPORTERS.com The Online Market for G20 Importers, Netherlands Import Export Directory. Accessed on May 11, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on May 11, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 11, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 11, 2025

Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on May 11, 2025

Wikipedia, List of Companies of the Netherlands. Accessed on May 11, 2025

Wikipedia, Netherlands. Accessed on May 11, 2025

Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on May 11, 2025

X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: Euro to US Dollar (monthly average 2024). Accessed on May 11, 2025