Dutch volume of exports up by six percent in May

Trade surplus growing

THE HAGUE - The volume of goods exported by the Netherlands in May 2008 was more than six percent higher than in the same month a year earlier. The rise in the volume of imports was only 4 percent during the same month, according to the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS).

Both growth rates lagged somewhat behind the average growth rate of the preceding months.

The value of exports was nearly $50 billion, up almost ten percent over May 2007. The value of imports grew by 8 percent to almost $44.4 billion. This resulted in a trade surplus worth $4.5 billion, up $0.8 billion from May 2007.

The value of imports and exports of food products and mineral fuels in particular grew significantly in May. The value of goods imported from non-EU countries rose slightly more than that coming from EU countries. On the other hand, exports to EU countries increased more than exports to non-EU countries.