Netherlands tops EU in Christmas goods trade, leading in both exports and imports

The Netherlands leads the European Union in exports of Christmas goods. According to Statistics Netherlands, Dutch shipments of items including Christmas baubles and other decorations made up 40 percent of all such exports in the EU last year.

The vast majority of the Christmas items were imported and then shipped onward from the Netherlands to other countries. More than four-fifths, 81 percent, originated in China, while domestic production of such goods in the Netherlands is minimal.

Dutch exports of Christmas decorations totaled 268 million euros, marking a 19 percent increase compared with the previous year. Growth was led primarily by higher demand from Germany, while France, Belgium, and Italy also stepped up their purchases from Dutch suppliers.

Despite the increase, last year did not mark a record for Christmas item exports. Before the coronavirus pandemic, exports were higher, totaling 284 million euros in 2019.

The Netherlands imported Christmas decorations worth 240 million euros last year, according to Statistics Netherlands, this also made the country the largest importer of these goods within the European Union.