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Trade between Kuwait and the Netherlands

In 2024, Kuwait exported $1.7 billion to the Netherlands and imported $446 million. Kuwait ran a surplus of $1.3 billion with the Netherlands, compared with a surplus of $1.5 billion in 2019. The Netherlands was Kuwait’s 12th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and Kuwait was the Netherlands’ 62nd (0.2%).

Summary

Kuwait → Netherlands
$1.7billion
Netherlands → Kuwait
$446million
Kuwait’s balance
$1.3billion

Balance

Kuwait’s trade balance with the Netherlands

Trade between Kuwait and the Netherlands grew 75% since 1995

USD billions (current). Kuwait’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 1.7
  • Imports 0.4
  • Balance +1.3

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$1.1 billion$103 million$1 billion
1996$1.4 billion$120 million$1.3 billion
1997$1.1 billion$124 million$945 million
1998$731 million$128 million$603 million
1999$887 million$116 million$772 million
2000$1.4 billion$127 million$1.3 billion
2001$1 billion$132 million$914 million
2002$772 million$166 million$605 million
2003$770 million$195 million$575 million
2004$1.1 billion$243 million$870 million
2005$1.8 billion$289 million$1.5 billion
2006$2.4 billion$269 million$2.2 billion
2007$2.4 billion$395 million$2 billion
2008$3.1 billion$419 million$2.6 billion
2009$1.6 billion$394 million$1.2 billion
2010$2.3 billion$388 million$2 billion
2011$3.2 billion$430 million$2.8 billion
2012$3 billion$474 million$2.5 billion
2013$3 billion$477 million$2.5 billion
2014$2.7 billion$525 million$2.1 billion
2015$2.1 billion$547 million$1.5 billion
2016$988 million$470 million$519 million
2017$1.4 billion$565 million$851 million
2018$1.6 billion$791 million$819 million
2019$1.9 billion$452 million$1.5 billion
2020$419 million$420 million-$854 thousand
2021$367 million$422 million-$54 million
2022$300 million$456 million-$156 million
2023$673 million$529 million$144 million
2024$1.7 billion$446 million$1.3 billion

What they sell each other

What Kuwait sells to the Netherlands

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Refined petroleum$1.7 billion · 98.4%
    2.2 million tonnes · Kuwait’s destinations
  2. Cyclic hydrocarbons$8 million · 0.48%
    6 thousand tonnes
  3. Chemically modified fats and oils$5 million · 0.27%
    6 thousand tonnes
  4. Cigarettes and cigars$2 million · 0.09%
    76 tonnes
  5. Cars$944 thousand · 0.05%
    138 tonnes · the Netherlands’ sources
  6. Jewelry$870 thousand · 0.05%
  7. Ferroalloys$645 thousand · 0.04%
    605 tonnes · the Netherlands’ sources
  8. Auto parts$627 thousand · 0.04%
    50 tonnes · the Netherlands’ sources
  9. Women's suits and dresses$594 thousand · 0.03%
    11 tonnes
  10. Cameras and broadcast equipment$566 thousand · 0.03%
    2 tonnes

What the Netherlands sells to Kuwait

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Powdered and condensed milk$93 million · 20.9%
    17 thousand tonnes · the Netherlands’ destinations
  2. Frozen vegetables$44 million · 9.8%
    23 thousand tonnes
  3. Discs and storage media$26 million · 5.8%
    6 tonnes
  4. Lithium hydroxide and other metal oxides$19 million · 4.2%
    540 tonnes
  5. Malt extract and food mixes$15 million · 3.3%
    990 tonnes
  6. Chocolate$15 million · 3.3%
    2 thousand tonnes · the Netherlands’ destinations
  7. Cane and beet sugar$13 million · 2.9%
    22 thousand tonnes
  8. Cut flowers$12 million · 2.8%
    1 thousand tonnes · the Netherlands’ destinations
  9. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$11 million · 2.5%
    151 tonnes · the Netherlands’ destinations
  10. Catalysts$9 million · 2.1%
    1 thousand tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shuaiba to Rotterdam.

The estimated sea route between Shuaiba and Rotterdam is 11,754 nautical miles (21,769 km) long: ≈ 27–35 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Strait of Hormuz, the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Dover (11,754 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Strait of Dover (6,847 nautical miles).

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$2.1 billion · 94.7%
  2. Air$116 million · 5.3%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

The Netherlands was Kuwait’s 12th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and Kuwait was the Netherlands’ 62nd (0.2%).

The Netherlands in Kuwait’s trade
2.1%
The Netherlands’ rank among Kuwait’s partners
12th
Kuwait in the Netherlands’ trade
0.2%
Kuwait’s rank among the Netherlands’ partners
62nd

Compare with

Other partners of Kuwait

Other partners of the Netherlands

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.