The table below summarizes the competitive situation that U.S. suppliers face in the Dutch food market in terms of locally produced goods and imports and their respective market shares. In addition, the strengths of supplying countries and also the advantages and disadvantages of local suppliers are discussed.
|
Product Category (Product Code) Imports in $ million |
Main Suppliers, in percentage |
Strengths of Key Supply Countries |
Advantages and Disadvantages of Local Suppliers |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Craft beer (HS2203) Total imports: $593 From USA: $5.6 |
1. Belgium 2. Germany 3. The U.K. 4. Poland 9. USA |
56 11 7 7 1 |
Competition from neighboring countries, dominated by Belgium and Germany. |
Despite the closure of restaurants for many weeks, imports were up. Strong demand for new flavors, funky labels, and innovative tastes. |
|
Sweet potatoes (HS071420) Total imports: $179 From USA: $84 |
1. USA 2. Egypt 3. Belgium 4. The U.K. 5. South Africa 6. Germany 7. Spain |
47 18 6 4 4 3 3 |
Increasing competition from Egypt. As well as South Africa, Honduras, China, and Brazil. The U.K. and Belgium do not produce but re-export sweet potatoes. |
Despite the closure of restaurants for many weeks, imports were up and U.S. imports grew by 4.6%. Supermarkets are increasingly selling fresh and processed sweet potatoes. Demand for variety and quality products. |
|
Condiments and sauces (Product group) Total imports: $672 From USA: $21 |
1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. the U.K. 4. Italy 5. Poland 11. USA |
18 14 9 8 8 3 |
First four suppliers benefit from proximity and first three from being in the EU market. |
Demand for good quality and unique products has grown during COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers also treated themselves more by buying more comfort food as a form of compensation. U.S. imports benefited from this, and realized an increase from $16 to $21 million in imports in 2021. |
|
Walnuts (HS080231) Total imports: $12.8 From USA: $4.6 |
1. Chile 2. USA 3. Germany 4. France 5. Italy |
45 36 7 6 2 |
Fierce competition from Chile: market share increased y/y from 25 to 45 percent, whereas the U.S. import value remained stable. Germany does not produce but re-exports walnuts.
|
Growing demand from the snack industry. Walnuts benefit from their healthy reputation. |
|
Ice cream (HS210500) Total imports: $262 From USA: $1 |
1. Belgium 2. Germany 3. France 4. The U.K. 5. Italy 12. USA |
38 21 9 9 7 1 |
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are close to the market and offer good quality products. |
Total imports of ice cream increased year-over-year with 6.8 percent. There is demand for good quality and unique products. |
|
Pistachios, shelled (HS080252) Total imports: $14.1 From USA: $3.3 |
1. Turkey 2. Germany 3. USA 4. Spain 5. South Africa |
37 31 17 5 3 |
Turkey increasingly competes with the United States while Germany and Belgium re-export imported pistachios. |
|
|
Food Preparations (HS210690) Total Imports: $2,217
From USA: $372 |
Germany: 17% USA: 17% Belgium: 13% U.K.: 8% France: 7% |
Due to proximity, neighboring countries are leading suppliers of flavored or colored sugar, isoglucose, lactose, glucose and maltodextrine, syrups. |
Food preparations are produced and used throughout the EU. |
Food Preparations (HS210690) Total Imports: $2,217 million |
|
Odoriferous Substances (HS330210) Total Imports: $558 million |
Ireland: 36% USA: 19% Germany: 18% The U.K.: 8% Belgium: 5% |
Odoriferous Substances are compounds (natural and synthetic) with odors used in the manufacture of various non-food and food products and are locally available. |
U.S. suppliers are often at a price disadvantage compared to EU suppliers mainly due to time, shipping costs and taxes. The U.K. is upcoming competition: its share tripled in 2021, compared to prior years. |
Odoriferous Substances (HS330210) Total Imports: $558 million |
|
Non-Alcoholic beverages (Product group) Total imports: $1,194 From USA: $45 |
1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. Austria 4. France 5. USA |
31 22 13 10 4 |
All, except the USA, are close to the market and offer good quality products. |
Demand for branded, good quality, and unique products that have a story to tell. |
Source: Trade Data Monitor
In 2021, total Dutch agricultural and related product imports were valued at $103.2 billion, up 19 percent from 2020, and the United States is the 6th largest supplier. Imports from the United States totaled $3.3 billion, up by 1.8 percent compared to 2020. The port of Rotterdam is the largest port by volume in Europe and the eleventh largest port in the world. The Dutch are excellent traders, and much of the agricultural imports are re-exported directly or after adding value through mixing, repacking, or processing. The Netherlands is the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products after the United States.
Total Dutch imports of consumer-oriented agricultural products increased by 16 percent compared to 2020, totaling $50.5 billion. For these products, imports from the United States ($1.48 billion) increased by 9.2 percent compared to 2020, which is driven by higher imports of food preparations, beef, processed vegetables, distilled spirits, bakery goods, wine, sauces and condiments, and other products.
Contact
Office of Agricultural Affairs
Foreign Agricultural Service – The Netherlands
agthehague@usda.gov / +31 70 310 2298