This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
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.
Netherlands’ U.S. Market Share Versus Main Suppliers’ Market Share in Consumer Oriented (U.S. exports), Million USD, 2020
|
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: $490 From USA: $5 |
1. Belgium 2. Germany 3. The U.K. 4. France 9. USA |
53 13 9 8 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: $158 From USA: $80 |
1. USA 2. Egypt 3. The U.K. 4. Spain 5. Belgium 6. China 7. Honduras |
51 14 12 5 3 3 3 |
Competition from Egypt, Spain, China, and Honduras. The U.K. and Belgium do not produce but re-export sweet potatoes. |
Despite the closure of restaurants for many weeks, imports were up. Supermarkets are increasingly selling fresh and processed sweet potatoes. Demand for variety and quality products. |
|
Condiments and sauces (Product group) Total imports: $542 From USA: $16 |
1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. Italy 4. The U.K. 5. Poland 11. USA |
20 14 9 9 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 through buying more comfort food as a form of compensation. |
|
Walnuts (HS080231) Total imports: $9 From USA: $5 |
1. USA 2. Chile 3. Germany 4. France 5. Hungary |
54 25 9 7 3 |
Competition from Chile, France, and Hungary. 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: $246 From USA: $3 |
1. Belgium 2. Germany 3. The U.K. 4. France 5. Italy 8. USA |
40 25 9 7 7 1 |
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are close to the market and offer good quality products. |
Demand for good quality and unique products. |
|
Pistachios, shelled (HS080252) Total imports: $13 From USA: $3 |
1. Turkey 2. Germany 3. USA 4. Iran 5. Belgium |
28 27 25 6 6 |
Turkey, and to a lesser extend Iran, competes with the United States while Germany and Belgium re-export imported pistachios. |
Growing demand from the snack industry. Pistachios benefit from healthy image. |
|
Product Category (product code) Imports in $ million |
Main Suppliers, in percentage |
Strengths of Key Supply Countries |
Advantages and Disadvantages of Local Suppliers |
|
|
Food Preparations (HS210690) Total Imports: $1,845 million |
Germany: 20% USA: 17% Belgium: 13% U.K.: 11% Italy: 5% |
Due to proximity, neighboring countries are leading suppliers of flavored or colored sugar, isoglucose, lactose, and glucose and maltodextrine syrups. |
Food preparations are produced and used throughout the EU. |
Food Preparations (HS210690) Total Imports: $1,845 million |
|
Odoriferous Substances (HS330210) Total Imports: $442 million |
Ireland: 34% USA: 22% Germany: 20% 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. |
Odoriferous Substances (HS330210) Total Imports: $442 million |
|
Non-Alcoholic beverages (Product group) Total imports: $1,035 From USA: $44 |
1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. Austria 4. France 5. USA |
32 24 13 9 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 2020, total Dutch agricultural and related product imports were valued at $87.5 billion, up 5.5 percent from 2019. Imports from the United States totaled $3.3 billion, also up by 5.5 percent. 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.
The United States is the 10th largest supplier of consumer-oriented products to the Netherlands, after several EU member states and the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. While total Dutch imports of consumer-oriented products remained unchanged in 2020 compared to 2019, imports from the United States ($1.36 billion) were up by 1.4 percent, driven by higher imports of food preparations, distilled spirits, non-alcoholic beverages, bakery goods, sauces and condiments, and other products.