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Netherlands Top Trading Partners

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Netherlands Top Trading Partners
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Also called Holland, Netherlands is strategically located on the European continent. The international trade powerhouse borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and is in close proximity to the United Kingdom via the North Sea and the English Channel.

The Netherlands exported US$989.7 billion worth of products around the world in 2025, rising by 41.5% from $699.3 billion in 2024.

That dollar amount also results from a 42% upturn compared to $696.9 billion five years earlier during 2021.

Applying a continental lens, almost two-fifths (79.3%) of the Netherlands’ exports by value was delivered to fellow European countries while 10.9% was sold to importers in Asia. The Netherlands shipped another 6.2% worth of goods to customers in North America.

Smaller percentages went to buyers in Africa (1.8%), Latin America (1.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean then Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Also, the value of exports from the Netherlands sold to fellow European Union members equaled 67.9% of overall Netherlands’ export sales, up from 66.2% one year prior.

Netherlands Top Trading Partners

Below is a list showcasing 25 of Netherlands top trading partners, countries that imported the most Dutch shipments by dollar value during 2025. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Dutch exports.

  1. Germany: US$221.8 billion (22.4% of total Dutch exports)
  2. Belgium: $104.1 billion (10.5%)
  3. France: $78.2 billion (7.9%)
  4. United Kingdom: $57 billion (5.8%)
  5. United States: $48.7 billion (4.9%)
  6. Italy: $43.3 billion (4.4%)
  7. Spain: $38.2 billion (3.9%)
  8. Poland: $33.7 billion (3.4%)
  9. mainland China: $23.9 billion (2.4%)
  10. Sweden: $22.9 billion (2.3%)
  11. Czech Republic: $16.9 billion (1.7%)
  12. Switzerland: $13.9 billion (1.4%)
  13. Austria: $12.7 billion (1.3%)
  14. Denmark: $12.5 billion (1.3%)
  15. Ireland: $12.4 billion (1.3%)
  16. South Korea: $11.9 billion (1.2%)
  17. Türkiye: $10.9 billion (1.1%)
  18. Taiwan: $10.3 billion (1%)
  19. Hungary: $9.5 billion (1%)
  20. Finland: $9.1 billion (0.9%)
  21. Norway: $8.4 billion (0.8%)
  22. Portugal: $7.9 billion (0.8%)
  23. Romania: $6.9 billion (0.7%)
  24. Mexico: $6.2 billion (0.6%)
  25. Japan: $6.1 billion (0.6%)

Well over four-fifths (83.6%) of Dutch exports in 2025 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.

Recording the strongest increases in spending on exports from the Netherlands were Mexico (up 153.4% from 2024), Hungary (up 103.9%), Czech Republic (up 95.5%), Portugal (up 68.1%), Romania (up 66.1%) then Spain (up 63.4%).

The most modest gainers were based in mainland China (up 8.5% from 2024) and South Korea (up 18.6%).

Countries Causing Worst Trade Deficits for the Netherlands

As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.

It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.

Netherlands incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.

  1. mainland China: -US$103.3 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2025.)
  2. United States: -$29 billion
  3. Vietnam: -$17.9 billion
  4. Ireland: -$17.4 billion
  5. Malaysia: -$9.8 billion
  6. Thailand: -$8.7 billion
  7. Norway: -$8.3 billion
  8. Japan: -$6.8 billion
  9. India: -$6.2 billion
  10. Kazakhstan: -$6 billion

Among the Netherlands’ trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Dutch deficits with Ireland (up 249.4%), mainland China (up 232.1%) and Vietnam (up 138.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Netherlands’ competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Netherlands to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.

Countries Generating Biggest Trade Surpluses for the Netherlands

The Netherlands earned an overall US$118.4 billion trade surplus in 2025, a positive trade balance that accelerated by 51.5% over the $78.2 billion surplus recorded one year earlier for 2024.

Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.

Netherlands earned the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.

  1. Germany: US$99.4 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2025)
  2. France: $52.1 billion
  3. Belgium: $39 billion
  4. United Kingdom: $30.8 billion
  5. Spain: $24.8 billion
  6. Italy: $22.8 billion
  7. Poland: $15.4 billion
  8. Sweden: $12.2 billion
  9. Austria: $8.2 billion
  10. Switzerland: $7.2 billion

Among the Netherlands’ trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Dutch surpluses with Sweden (up 208.3%), Poland (up 138.7%) and Spain (up 114.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Netherlands’ competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Netherlands to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.

Netherlands’ Major Exports Companies

Twenty-seven Dutch corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Dutch export companies headquartered in the Netherlands that Forbes included.

  • Ageas (diversified insurance)
  • Akzo Nobel (diversified chemicals)
  • ASM International N.V. (semiconductors)
  • ASM International N.V. (semiconductors)
  • ASML Holding (semiconductors)
  • DSM (diversified chemicals)
  • Gemalto (electronics)
  • Gemalto (electronics)
  • Heineken Holding (beverages)
  • Lyondell Basell Industries (diversified chemicals)
  • NXP Semiconductors (semiconductors)
  • Philips (industrial conglomerate)
  • Royal Dutch Shell (oil, gas)
  • Unilever (food processing)

According to IMPORTERS.com listings for Dutch suppliers, the following are also examples of relatively smaller companies that ship products from the Netherlands. Shown within parenthesis are products that the Dutch business provides.

  • Bless Ya, Inc (young girls apparel)
  • Ciparo (paper, plastics)
  • Daqso International (toiletries, cosmetics, perfumes)
  • Floorkinderkleding (children clothing)
  • Holland Metals & Raw Materials (non-ferrous metals, steel scrap)
  • King-Boats (inflatable craft)
  • Lagwo Trading Inc NV (crude oil, petroleum)
  • Powerview Technology BV (surveillance products)
  • Raisina Exports (dried fruits, nuts)
  • Shipside Tax Free Cars BV (automobiles)

 

See also Netherlands Top 10 Imports, Netherlands Top 10 Major Export Companies and Netherlands Top 10 Exports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on April 24, 2026

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on April 24, 2026

IMPORTERS.com The Online Market for G20 Importers, Netherlands Import Export Directory. Accessed on April 24, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 24, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 24, 2026

Wikipedia, List of Companies of the Netherlands. Accessed on April 24, 2026

Wikipedia, Netherlands. Accessed on April 24, 2026