Dutch agricultural exports increased by 4.8% in value last year, reaching €128.9 billion, primarily due to higher prices, according to recent research conducted by statistics agency CBS and

Wageningen University.

Re-exported goods—products initially produced outside the Netherlands—accounted for €45.5 billion or 35% of the total export value, maintaining a similar proportion as in 2023. The Netherlands remains Europe’s largest importer of soy, palm oil, and cocoa beans, as well as the second-largest importer of timber and beef products.

The Dutch economy gained €47.4 billion from agricultural exports, with €42.3 billion generated from domestic products and €5.2 billion from re-exports, according to CBS.

Dairy products and eggs made up the largest share of agricultural exports, amounting to €12.3 billion, followed by cut flowers and plants at €11.9 billion. Meat exports, however, experienced a slight decline, falling to €10.7 billion.

A significant factor in the export surge was a sharp increase in cocoa prices, which boosted the value of chocolate, cocoa butter, and paste by 66%. This made cocoa products the fourth most valuable export category. The price spike was driven by a poor cocoa harvest in key production regions like Ivory Coast and Ghana, where heavy rainfall disrupted farming.

Germany remains the top destination for Dutch agricultural exports, accounting for 25% of the total in 2024. In contrast, exports to China dropped by 12%, largely due to reduced demand for baby milk and pork as domestic production in China increased. Photo by Harald Hoyer from Schwerin, Germany, Wikimedia commons.