Coffee is among Vietnam’s key exports to the Netherlands with an increase of 105.1% in the three months of 2023

The biggest export in January and February was machinery, equipment, tools and parts, bringing home US$346.5 million, up 49.9% year on year, accounting for 23.4% of the total.

The runner-up was computers, electronic products and components, with US$320.5 million, down 12.8% year on year, accounting for 21.6% of the total.

Strongly growing exports to the Netherlands included telephones (up 91.7%), vehicles (46.1%), vegetables and fruits (69.8%) and coffee (105.1%).

The EU is a dynamic market. Cooperation opportunities are huge in fruit and vegetable trading, focused on cooperation ties with Dutch traders which have robustly increased imports from developing countries in recent years. The Netherlands has long been considered the gateway to the EU market and a leading transshipment destination into Europe and the world, particularly for vegetables, tubers and fruits. Specially, the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is bringing many new opportunities for Vietnamese and Dutch businesses.

During the official visit to the Netherlands in late 2022, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to effectively enact the EVFTA and jointly make the two countries freight transshipment centers of the regions. PM Chinh hoped the Netherlands to soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); encouraged Dutch firms to boost investment in Vietnam in seaports, shipbuilding technology, logistics connectivity and strategic infrastructure; requested the Netherlands to support the European Commission’s (EC) early removal of the IUU yellow card for Vietnam's seafood exports and support Vietnam to build seaports, airports and innovation centers according to the Brainport Campus Model. He also proposed that the two sides soon sign a labor cooperation agreement.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte affirmed that EVFTA is an important driving force to bolster bilateral economic relations; emphasized that Dutch businesses are increasingly interested in Vietnam where there is political stability and a favorable business and investment environment; highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts to develop sustainable fisheries; and supported the EC’s removal of the IUU yellow card.