Dutch Exports Volume up 6 Percent in May : Geert Wilders Effect Has Little or No Effect

Dutch exports up 6% - mind you - the increase was seen in exports to EU countries - it should show the Dutch government that they don't have to go a grovel and sell your countrymen [and possibly laws] out to despotic leaders such as Algeria and Iran - to show how tolerant you are - in the face of the anticipated Fitna film - which turned out to be not worth the worry.

THE HAGUE, 17/07/08 - The volume of Dutch goods exports in May was more than 6 percent bigger than in the same year-earlier month. The volume of imports increased by over 4 percent, the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) reported yesterday.

Both growth rates lagged somewhat behind the average growth in preceding months. May did have one working day less 2008 than in 2007 but the volume figures have been corrected for this effect.

Import and export prices rose by 7 and 6 percent respectively, compared with May 2007. Import and export prices have been rising gradually since September 2007, partly as result of soaring prices for petroleum and petroleum products.

The value of exports was 30.9 billion euros, nearly 10 percent up on May last year. The value of imports grew by 8 percent to 28.0 billion euros. This resulted in a trade surplus of 2.9 billion euros, 0.5 billion up on May 2007.

The value of imports and exports of food products and mineral fuels in particular grew substantially in May. The value of goods imported from non-EU countries increased slightly more substantially than that from EU countries. On the other hand, exports to EU countries increased more than exports to non-EU countries.

Source: NIS