The Netherlands’ trade surplus narrowed to EUR 9.14 billion in April 2025, from EUR 11.23 billion in the same month of the previous year, marking the smallest surplus since August 2024. Imports rose by 0.5% year-on-year to EUR 57.55 billion, driven by a 2% increase in arrivals from EU countries, which offset a 0.8% decline in arrivals from non-EU countries. Among key import categories, food and live animals surged by 18.3%, followed by animal and vegetable oils and fats (16.9%) and raw materials (4%). Meanwhile, exports declined by 2.6% to EUR 66.68 billion, with shipments falling to both EU (-0.4%) and non-EU (-5.9%) countries. The drop in exports was largely due to lower shipments of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related products (-21%), beverages and tobacco (-5.9%), and machinery and transport equipment (-2.6%). Over the first four months of 2025, the Netherlands posted a total trade surplus of EUR 43.92 billion.