The table below summarizes the competitive situation that U.S. suppliers face in the Dutch food market in terms of locally produced goods and imports and their respective market shares. In addition, the strengths of supplying countries and also the advantages and disadvantages of local suppliers are discussed.
Netherlands’ U.S. Market Share Versus Main Suppliers’ Market Share in Consumer Oriented (U.S. exports), Million USD, 2022
Product Category (product code) Imports in $ million | Main Suppliers, in percentage | Strengths of Key Supply Countries | Advantages and Disadvantages of Local Suppliers | |
Craft beer (HS2203) Total imports: $533 From USA: $4 | 1. Belgium 2. Germany 3. Poland 4. U.K. 9. USA | 59 13 5 4 1 | Competition from neighboring countries, dominated by Belgium and Germany. | Strong demand for new flavors, funky labels, and innovative tastes. |
Distilled Spirits (Product group) Total imports: 1,414 From USA: $129 | 1.UK 2. Belgium 3. Germany 4. USA | 21 17 17 9 | Competition from neighboring countries, dominated by Belgium and Germany. | Strong demand for whiskies with funky labels and innovative tastes. |
Condiments & sauces (Product group) Total imports: $678 From USA: $18 | 1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. Thailand 4. Poland 11. USA | 17 14 8 8 3 | Germany, Belgium, and Poland benefit from proximity and being in the EU market. | Demand for good quality and unique products. |
Walnuts (HS080231) Total imports: $14 From USA: $5
| 1. USA 2. Chile 3. France 4. Germany | 36 33 13 13 | Competition from Chile and France. | Growing demand from the snack industry. Walnuts benefit from their healthy reputation. |
Bakery Goods (Product group) Total imports: $2,978 From USA: 44 | 1.Belgium 2. Germany 3. France 4. Italy 5. U.K. 12. USA | 25 24 7 7 5 1 | Competition from neighboring countries | Growing demand for pastry containing chocolate or confectionary. |
Snack food (Product group) Total imports: $2,204 From USA: $46 | 1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. France 4. U.K. 10. USA | 27 26 8 5 2 | 1, 2, and 3 are close to the market and offer good quality products. | Demand for branded, good quality, and unique products that have a story to tell. |
Chewing Gum & Candy (Product group) Total imports: $489 From USA: $16
| 1. Belgium 2. Germany 3. Spain 4. Poland 8. USA | 26 22 6 6 3 | 1, 2, 3, and 4 are close to the market and offer good quality products. | Driven by social media there is local demand for extra sour and extra spicy candy and the United States is popular. |
Coffee (Product group) Total imports: $991 From USA: $33 | 1.Germany 2. France 3. U.K. 4. Poland 5. Belgium 9. USA | 30 12 9 8 8 3 | All other suppliers are EU countries | Demand for new blends and innovative products. |
Spices (Product group) Total imports: $530 From USA: $4 | 1. China 2. Vietnam 3. Indonesia 4. Germany 5. Brazil 20. USA | 14 13 10 7 7 1 | Competition from countries in Asia. | Demand for new and good quality spices. Exports of U.S. spices including vanilla, anise, and cardamoms are growing. |
Sweet potato (HS071420) Total imports: $157 From USA: $59 | 1. USA 2. Egypt 3. Belgium 4. Germany | 37 25 8 5 | Competition from Egypt, China, and Honduras. | Restaurants increasingly include sweet potato products in their menu. |
Wine (HS2204) Total Imports: $1,586 From USA: $27 | 1. France 2. Italy 3. Germany 4. Spain 5. Chile 14. USA | 30 16 14 10 6 1 | France, Italy, Germany, and Spain have good quality wines at competitive prices and are moreover popular holiday destinations. | Limited commercial availability of domestic wine in the Netherlands. |
Seafood (Seafood products) Total imports: $5,515 From USA: $118 | 1. Iceland 2. Norway 3. Germany 4. Belgium 5. Denmark 14. USA | 14 8 7 7 6 2 | Iceland and Norway are the leading supplier of cod and salmon, respectively while Germany dominates Dutch imports of pelagic fish. The USA dominates the supply of Alaska Pollack (AP), scallops and wild salmon. For shrimp & prawns, cod and lobster, the U.S. competes with several other non-EU exporters. | The Netherlands is an international trader in seafood products, serving foodservice markets throughout Europe. The Dutch increasingly depend on imports for AP, scallops, Sockeye salmon, shrimp & prawns, cod, and lobster. |
Beef (beef and beef products) Total imports: $2,662 From USA: $183 | 1. Germany 2. Belgium 3. Ireland 4. Argentina 5. Poland 6. Uruguay 7. USA | 15 10 10 8 8 7 7 | Germany and Belgium sell lower quality and price competitive beef. The USA exports high quality and grain fed beef, known for its consistency and taste, to the high-end retail and foodservice industry. | There is not enough Dutch beef of high quality available. Ireland, Argentina, Uruguay, and the USA all profit from this deficit. |
Source: Trade Data Monitor
The Netherlands is the importer of agricultural products within the EU, and continues to be the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world. Products from other EU Member States lead Dutch imports of consumer-oriented products. In 2022, the United States was the nineth largest supplier of these products to the Netherlands, with imports valued at over $1.5 billion. The port of Rotterdam is the largest port by volume in Europe and the eleventh largest port in the world. The Dutch are excellent traders, and much of the agricultural imports are re-exported directly or after adding value through mixing, repacking, or processing. The Netherlands is the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products after the United States.
For detailed information on exporting agricultural products to the Netherlands please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service’s website.
Contact
Office of Agricultural Affairs
Foreign Agricultural Service – The Netherlands
agthehague@usda.gov / +31 70 310 2298