Netherlands emerges as India’s 3rd largest export destination in 2023-24

NEW DELHI : Netherlands has emerged as India’s third largest export destination after the US and UAE during 2023-24, even as the country’s merchandise shipments dipped by over 3 per cent, according to the Commerce Ministry data.

The main commodities which registered healthy exports growth in the Netherlands include petroleum products (USD 14.29 billion), electrical goods, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals in the last fiscal. India’s trade surplus with the Netherlands has increased to USD 17.4 billion in the last fiscal from USD 13 billion in 2022-23. The Netherlands has taken over major destinations such as the UK, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Germany.

India’s exports to the Netherlands rose by about 3.5 per cent to USD 22.36 billion in 2023-24 as against USD 21.61 billion in 2022-23, the data showed. In 2021-22 and 2020-21, the outbound shipments to the European country stood at USD 12.55 billion and USD 6.5 billion, respectively. The exports have been registering healthy growth continuously since 2000-01, when India’s exports to that nation were USD 880 million.

Further, in 2021-22, the Netherlands was the fifth largest destination for Indian exports as against the ninth largest in 2020-21.

According to trade experts, the Netherlands has emerged as a hub for Europe with efficient ports and connectivity with the EU through roads, railways and waterways