Netherlands
2008-12-01
Industry Overview
The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy that depends heavily on foreign trade. Its industrial activity is mainly in food processing, chemicals, the refining of petroleum, and electrical machinery. The food packaging industry accounts for 18% of the Dutch GDP. The food and agricultural sectors are the main users of packaging equipment. The Dutch packaging industry is primarily comprised of some 200 small and medium-sized companies. 80% of them are specialized in the production of food packaging equipment.
As in other European countries, Dutch consumers are becoming more interested in new foods and traditional eating patterns are changing. Convenience, novelty, value and quality are all important. 75% of Dutch food production is exported; a majority goes to other EU countries. Demand for packaging machinery exports grew continuously in recent years due to the high standard of technology and quality. Asia and the EU are the main destinations for Dutch packaging machinery exports.
Packaging material imports reached over $3.8 billion in 2005. Major suppliers of packaging material for the country are Germany, Belgium, China, the US, the UK and Russia.
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