International Trade

Turkish international trade volume jumped from US$ 87 billion in 2004 to US$ 399.8 billion in 2014 (Exports: US$ 157.6 billion, Imports: US$ 242.2 billion). In parallel lines, the bilateral trade volume between NL and TR rose from US$ 4 billion to nearly US$ 7 billion in the last decade. Almost 44% of Turkish exports are destined to European markets whereas nearly 37,5 % of Turkish imports are originating from Europe.

Turkey is relying on imports of fuels (i.e. 22,6 % of total), raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals, transport equipment and machinery. On the other hand, strong Turkish export articles are apparels, foodstuffs, textiles, metal and machinery, automotive, and furniture.

Netherlands and Turkey

As of December 2014, 2,440 companies with Dutch capital are present in Turkey realizing 12% of international direct investments within 2009 - 2014 and ranking the Netherlands in the first place. Some of these Dutch investors are real old timers such as Philips (1930), Unilever (1953) and Shell (1923). The bilateral trade volume between the Netherlands and Turkey surpassed US$ 6.9 billion last year.

Turkey is among the Netherlands’ most important trade partners outside the EU. Turkey’s young and dynamic population as well as the country’s strong manufacturing capacity and highly developed infrastructure render it both a very attractive market and a production place according to many Dutch enterprises. The Dutch foreign direct investment in Turkey was US$ 19.6 billion between 2002 and 2014. On the other hand, nearly 300 Turkish origin companies have subsidiaries in the Netherlands and make use of the country as a gateway for other Western European markets. Among these Turkish investors in the Netherlands are banks, textile and fashion companies, logistics firms and producers of consumer electronics. The increasing role of small and medium sized companies in the bilateral economic relations as well as the strong involvement of 400.000 Turkish origin business people in the Netherlands are also healthy signs for the future of bilateral economic relations.

Horticulture, renewable energy, transportation infrastructure, water technology, ICT, real estate development, food processing, life sciences, vocational education, maritime and financial services are among the most promising sectors for the Dutch perspective.

FDI Flows per country of origin Levels, US$ million

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014
Netherlands / 717 / 486 / 1.425 / 1.381 / 918 / 2.017
Germany / 497 / 597 / 665 / 491 / 1.968 / 693
UK / 350 / 245 / 906 / 2.044 / 300 / 1.046
France / 617 / 623 / 999 / 86 / 217 / 280
Italy / 314 / 25 / 111 / 154 / 146 / 490
Other EU countries / 1.428 / 1.177 / 4.971 / 1.628 / 1.076 / 936
USA / 260 / 323 / 1403 / 439 / 326 / 325
Total / 6.266 / 6.256 / 16.137 / 10.759 / 9.866 / 8.699
NL share in total / 11.44% / 7.77% / 8.83% / 12.84% / 9.30% / 23.19%

Number of FDI Firms Established (1954-2014)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / TOTAL (1954-2014)
Netherlands / 142 / 175 / 183 / 172 / 161 / 123 / 2.440
Germany / 481 / 454 / 593 / 486 / 417 / 338 / 6.036
UK / 186 / 153 / 185 / 173 / 163 / 118 / 2.768
Italy / 85 / 91 / 112 / 107 / 101 / 82 / 1.207
Other EU countries / 514 / 527 / 685 / 599 / 513 / 481 / 6.888
USA / 109 / 101 / 161 / 114 / 102 / 82 / 1.507
Total / 2.797 / 3.261 / 4.346 / 4.271 / 3.781 / 4.019 / 41.528
NL share in total / 5,08% / 5,37% / 4,21% / 4,03% / 4,26% / 3,06% / 5,88%

Bilateral Trade Between The Netherlands & Turkey

Exports to Turkey (Million US$) / Imports from Turkey (Million US$)
2004 / 1.908 / 2.138
2005 / 2.152 / 2.470
2006 / 2.160 / 2.539
2007 / 2.655 / 3.019
2008 / 3.056 / 3.144
2009 / 2.543 / 2.127
2010 / 3.156 / 2.461
2011 / 4.005 / 3.243
2012 / 3.661 / 3.244
2013 / 3.364 / 3.538
2014 / 3.517 / 3.459