Internationalisation monitor 2012 - CBS

14 Statistics Netherlands
at the technology level of re-exported products, it turns out that Dutch re-exports mainly
consist of high-tech products. This is the case for re-exports going to European countries,
as well as re-exported products going to the US or BRIC (except China). Alternatively, the
technology level of Dutch manufactured products is somewhat lower. The importance of
agricultural products in Dutch exports plays an important role in this respect.
Although the majority of Dutch trade is with other European countries, imports
coming from BRIC-countries continue to grow. Since 1996, imports from BRIC-countries
quadrupled in size. In 2011, China was the third most important source of Dutch imports.
BRIC countries are rapidly growing, also in terms of economic power, providing growth
potential for Dutch exporters, which are somewhat lagging behind in entering these
markets (compared to other EU-countries). By looking at the characteristics of enterprises
that do trade with BRIC countries, chapter 2 makes apparent which enterprises fill such
potential. It turns out that BRIC traders are often medium to large sized firms, active in
two-way-trade, foreign owned and engaged in R&D. Also, BRIC-trade is associated with
higher productivity, indicating that only the more productive firms are able to overcome
trade barriers, costs and uncertainty.
Besides international trade in goods, trade in services are also an important part of international
trade (see chapters 3 and 11). Services exports account for approximately 20 percent
of total exports, which is a percentage that has remained stable since the mid-90s. Trade
in services was less affected by the economic crisis than trade in goods, but still services
exports declined significantly. Imports of services continued to grow during the crisis,
although relatively modest.
In the 2004–2011 period, the category other business services was by far the largest in
Dutch services imports and exports. Although this category is extremely diverse, approximately
50 percent could be ascribed to services trade between affiliated enterprises. For
imports as well as exports of services, the second and third most important services
traded were transportation, and royalties and license fees in 2011.
In 2011, the United States is the largest provider of services to the Netherlands, while
Ireland was the most important destination for Dutch services exports. In terms of Dutch
imports of services, Ireland was also an important partner country. Singapore is the largest
upcoming trade partner in terms of imports and Poland in terms of services exports.
The share of foreign controlled enterprises in the private sector has continued to grow
over the years. In 2010, foreign controlled enterprises generated 15 percent of Dutch GDP,
employed 804 thousand people and accounted for almost a quarter of private sector
investments (see chapter 4 and 12). But Dutch firms abroad were severely affected by
the economic crisis and saw their turnover decrease by 25 percent in 2009. However,
in 2010 this turnover returned to the level before the crisis. Despite the crisis, the number
of employees at Dutch firms abroad did not decrease much. In spite of the economic
downturn, the number of Dutch controlled enterprises increased substantially, which may