This means that confidence is at its highest level since the crisis. Exporters remain positive about the coming years. More than 3 out of 5 companies expect an increase in export revenue.
These are the main conclusions from the twentieth edition of Trends in Export, the annual survey by Atradius and entrepreneurs' organization evofenedex.
Realized increase in export revenue
In 2017, the realized increase in export revenue (8 percent) was almost in line with expectations (9 percent). In 2018, exporters also expect a revenue increase of around 9 percent. Three-quarters of the companies that realized an increase in revenue growth last year indicate that this is due to the increase in the number of orders from customers.
47 percent also say they have benefited from a favorable economic situation in their main export markets. That is 10 percent more than a year ago.
The expansion into new export markets (43 percent) was less important for revenue growth in 2017 than in 2016 (48 percent) and 2015 (55 percent).
Fewer exporters entering new markets
The research further shows that fewer exporters are entering new markets each year. In 2017, this applied to 29 percent of companies: the lowest percentage since 2015. This trend is likely to continue in 2018.
The United States and the United Arab Emirates are most frequently mentioned as new export markets. 11 percent of exporters entered these markets for the first time in 2017. Spain, Poland, and China complete the top 5. Iran, which was in first place last year, does not return to this ranking this year.
As in previous years, exporters see the most opportunities in Europe, which is growing as a share of the total export revenue of the Netherlands. The importance of the EU is also increasing in the medium term.
