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Agricultural exports break record again
The value of Dutch agricultural exports rose again to record highs in 2021. Despite the ongoing corona crisis and the first year of Brexit, the previous record of 2020 has been well broken. Agricultural exports reached a record value of €2021 billion in 104,7, 9,4% (or €9 billion) more than the year before.
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Statistics Netherlands estimate this on the basis of joint research commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). According to CBS and WUS, the growth in export value is related to a generally strong economic recovery from the first corona year and rising prices. The Dutch economy last year earned an estimated €46,1 billion from the export of agricultural products: €42,1 billion from the export of Dutch-made goods and €4,0 billion from re-exports. Agricultural exports concern primary, unprocessed goods and secondary, processed goods
The growth of agricultural exports is mainly due to price increases, but the export volume has also grown. Of the export value of €104,7 billion, Dutch-made goods account for €75,7 billion. €29 billion is re-exports. Exports of Dutch-made goods grew the fastest at 10,7%. Re-exports grew by 6,1%.
France overtakes UK as third most important export destination
A quarter of agricultural goods went to Germany last year (€26,3 billion). Belgium (12%). France and the United Kingdom (each 8%) are the main destinations after that. France has passed the United Kingdom as the third most important destination for Dutch agricultural products. While the value of agricultural exports to France increased by 2021% in 14, exports to the United Kingdom grew only 0,4%.
This stagnation is due to a decrease in re-exports of agricultural goods of no less than 35% due to Brexit. Since 1 January 2021, due to import duties, it has become more attractive to transport goods from outside the European Union directly to the United Kingdom and not via the Netherlands. The export of Dutch agricultural goods to the United Kingdom, on the other hand, grew strongly: by 14%. CBS and WUR note that many British controls on animal and plant products and various customs formalities have been postponed until 2022 and will only have an effect on Dutch agricultural exports to the United Kingdom this year.
Less export of baby milk powder China
Floriculture is good for an export value of €12 billion, a quarter more than a year earlier. Meat is the second most exported agricultural product. Meat exports increased by 7% to €9,1 billion in 2021. All other major agricultural commodities also recorded export growth. Only the export of preparations of grain, flour and milk has shrunk. One reason for this is the sharp decline in the export of baby milk powder to China.
Linda van Eekeres
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