July 2, 2007

Re-exports: international comparison and implications for performance indicators

Since the mid eighties, re-exports in the Netherlands has been booming, with the exception of a short interruption in 2001 and 2002. This research shows that a relatively strong growth of re-exports is not just a Dutch phenomenon, but that there is an international trend going on.

Re-exported products are at least doubly counted in world trade figures. This international re-exports trend contributes to the fact that world trade volume is growing faster than the volume of world export production. Besides, there are some serious implications for the indicators of countries' exports performances. If one doesn't take account of the implications of the international re-exports trend, the relevant export market growth for Dutch manufactures as well as the loss of market share of Dutch industrialists are overestimated.