Country report The Netherlands 2019

Country report

  • Netherlands
  • General economic

28th May 2019

In 2019 Dutch export performance is impacted by lower demand from France and Germany, the ongoing Brexit issue and increased global trade uncertainty.

 

nl
nl

Insolvency improvement trend expected to reverse in 2018

With the economic rebound since 2014, business failures started to decrease annually, declining 8.6% to 4,223 cases in 2018 (including sole proprietorships). However, lower exports and increased economic uncertainty will weigh on GDP growth in 2019, with businesses failures expected to increase 3%.

 

nl

Slowdown of growth in 2019 due to reduced exports and investments

The economic expansion is expected to slow in 2019 after solid performance in 2017 and 2018. While domestic demand remains robust, both exports and investment growth are forecast to decline.

Exports are impacted by lower demand from France and Germany (which together account for more than 30% of Dutch exports) and increased global trade uncertainty. Trade and investment ties with the UK are very close, and the sectors that could see the biggest impact by Brexit are transport equipment, chemicals, electronics, and food.

That said, in 2019 private consumption continues to benefit from decreasing unemployment and higher disposable household income. However, a potential downside risk would be another deterioration in house prices, given the high level of mortgage debt and banks’ exposure to the housing market. Any major downward correction in the property market would negatively affect household consumption and the stability of the finance sector.

 

 

 

 

Related documents

Disclaimer

Each publication available on or from our websites, such as, but not limited to webpages, reports, articles, publications, tips and helpful content, trading briefs, infographics, videos (each a “Publication”) is provided for information purposes only and is not intended as a recommendation or advice as to particular transactions, investments or strategies in any way to any reader. Readers must make their own independent decisions, commercial or otherwise, regarding the information provided. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in any Publication has been obtained from reliable sources, Atradius is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in any Publication is provided ’as is’, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from its use, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied. In no event will Atradius, its related partnerships or corporations, or the partners, agents or employees thereof, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in any Publication, or for any loss of opportunity, loss of profit, loss of production, loss of business or indirect losses, special or similar damages of any kind, even if advised of the possibility of such losses or damages.