Export growth up nearly 7 percent

The volume of exports in February was 6.6 percent higher than a year earlier, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) revealed this week. The observed increase was smaller than that of January. The rise in export was primarily pushed up by transport equipment, petroleum products and natural gas. Both direct export and re-export saw growth, while the volume of imports in February was up 0.5% than a year before. In January, the imports of goods grew by 1.3 percent. Export conditions for April also improved, according to the Export Radar of the CBS. The improvement is mainly driven by depreciation of the Euro, which makes Dutch exports cheaper for foreign purchasers. That improves producer confidence in the Netherlands and the rest of the major Eurozone exporters, analysts said.