While you might expect tulips to be the pride of the Netherlands, it's actually their powerhouse food industry that truly blooms, producing over 1.2 million tons of tomatoes and exporting a staggering €128.5 billion in agri-food products annually.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Netherlands produced 1.2 million tons of fresh vegetables, with tomatoes accounting for 682,000 tons representing 57% of total vegetable output
- Dairy production in the Netherlands reached 14.8 billion kg of milk in 2022, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year, primarily from cows
- Pork production totaled 2.1 million tons carcass weight in 2022, with a slight decline of 0.5% due to reduced slaughter numbers
- In 2022, Dutch agri-food exports reached €128.5 billion, a 9.6% increase from 2021
- Germany was the top destination for Dutch food exports in 2022 with €22.4 billion, 17% of total
- Horticultural products accounted for €28.7 billion in exports in 2022, 22% of agri-food total
- The food industry employed 483,000 people in 2022, 5.5% of total employment
- Average wage in food manufacturing was €42,500 annually in 2022, up 4.2%
- 28% of food industry workers were migrants in 2022, mainly from Poland and Romania
- Food and beverage manufacturing had 4,200 companies in 2022, employing 250,000
- Top 10 food companies generated €75 billion turnover in 2022, 35% market share
- Number of food processors grew to 18,500 in 2022, up 2%
- Household food expenditure was €12,500 per capita in 2022, 12% of total spending
- Per capita cheese consumption was 19.2 kg in 2022, highest in EU
- Vegetable consumption averaged 140 kg per person in 2022, up 3%
The Netherlands' booming food industry exports high volumes of vegetables, dairy, meat, and horticultural goods worldwide.
Company and Market Statistics
- Food and beverage manufacturing had 4,200 companies in 2022, employing 250,000
- Top 10 food companies generated €75 billion turnover in 2022, 35% market share
- Number of food processors grew to 18,500 in 2022, up 2%
- Average company size in food sector was 26 employees in 2022
- Market concentration ratio (CR5) in dairy processing was 45% in 2022
- Innovation spending by food firms was €1.2 billion in 2022, 1.1% of turnover
- 62% of food companies exported in 2022, average 40% of turnover
- Bankruptcy rate in food manufacturing was 0.8% in 2022, below average
- Family-owned food firms comprised 75% in 2022
- E-commerce adoption in food companies was 35% in 2022, up 10%
- Profit margin average in food processing was 4.2% in 2022
- Number of startups in food tech reached 450 in 2022
- Supermarket chains held 78% retail market share in 2022
- R&D staff in food firms was 12,000 in 2022, 2.5% of workforce
- Mergers and acquisitions in food sector totaled 85 deals in 2022, value €2.1 billion
- Organic food processors numbered 1,200 in 2022, 6.5% of total
Company and Market Statistics Interpretation
While 250,000 people keep the nation fed through a sprawling and traditionally family-owned landscape of 4,200 companies, the real power—and the €75 billion in sales—is increasingly concentrated among a few giants who are betting big on innovation and exports just to survive the razor-thin margins and the overwhelming might of the supermarkets.
Consumption and Sustainability Statistics
- Household food expenditure was €12,500 per capita in 2022, 12% of total spending
- Per capita cheese consumption was 19.2 kg in 2022, highest in EU
- Vegetable consumption averaged 140 kg per person in 2022, up 3%
- Meat consumption totaled 76 kg per capita in 2022, pork 35%
- Organic food sales reached €1.8 billion in 2022, 4.5% market share
- Plant-based meat alternatives consumption grew 15% to 2.5 kg per capita in 2022
- Food waste per household was 45 kg in 2022, down 5% from 2020
- Sustainable packaging use in retail was 28% in 2022, target 50% by 2025
- Carbon footprint of Dutch food consumption was 1.2 tons CO2eq per capita in 2022
- Local food purchases by consumers were 42% in 2022, up from 35%
- Ready-to-eat meals consumption increased 12% to 25 kg per capita in 2022
- Water usage per kg dairy was 1,050 liters in 2022, down 8%
- 68% of consumers preferred sustainable labeled products in 2022
- Fish consumption averaged 21 kg per capita in 2022, salmon top species
- Energy drinks consumption was 12 liters per capita in 2022, youth highest
- Home delivery food orders grew 22% to 450 million in 2022
Consumption and Sustainability Statistics Interpretation
The Dutch are clearly eating their way to a greener future, one cheese-laden, vegetable-forward, and slightly less wasteful meal at a time, even if they occasionally speed things up with an energy drink.
Employment and Workforce Statistics
- The food industry employed 483,000 people in 2022, 5.5% of total employment
- Average wage in food manufacturing was €42,500 annually in 2022, up 4.2%
- 28% of food industry workers were migrants in 2022, mainly from Poland and Romania
- Food processing sector had 45,000 vacancies in 2022, labor shortage index 2.1
- Women comprised 32% of food industry workforce in 2022, higher in packaging roles
- Youth employment (15-25) in food sector was 12% in 2022, down from 15% in 2019
- Training hours per employee in food industry averaged 28 hours in 2022
- Turnover per employee in food manufacturing was €285,000 in 2022
- Part-time workers made up 25% of food sector jobs in 2022
- Self-employed in food production numbered 45,200 in 2022, mainly farmers
- Overtime hours averaged 3.2 per week in food processing in 2022
- 15% of food workers had higher education in 2022, up 2% from 2020
- Temporary contracts in food industry were 18% in 2022, highest in horticulture
- Productivity growth in food sector was 1.8% in 2022, driven by automation
- Age average in food manufacturing was 43.5 years in 2022
- Union membership in food sector was 22% in 2022
- Sick leave rate was 4.8% in food industry in 2022, above national average
Employment and Workforce Statistics Interpretation
The Dutch food industry, while managing to be both a vital economic engine and a cautionary tale, sustains half a million people with modest but rising wages, yet grapples with significant labor shortages, a reliance on migrant workers and part-time roles, and a stubbornly high sick leave rate, all while slowly automating and upskilling its aging, under-unionized workforce.
Export and Import Statistics
- In 2022, Dutch agri-food exports reached €128.5 billion, a 9.6% increase from 2021
- Germany was the top destination for Dutch food exports in 2022 with €22.4 billion, 17% of total
- Horticultural products accounted for €28.7 billion in exports in 2022, 22% of agri-food total
- Meat exports totaled €11.2 billion in 2022, with poultry leading at €3.8 billion
- Dairy exports reached €11.9 billion in 2022, cheese being €5.2 billion
- Food preparations exports were €25.6 billion in 2022, 20% of total agri-food exports
- Imports of agri-food products into Netherlands were €64.3 billion in 2022, up 22% from 2021
- Top import partner was Belgium with €12.1 billion in 2022, mainly processed foods
- Tropical fruits imports totaled €2.8 billion in 2022, avocados up 30%
- Coffee imports reached €1.9 billion in 2022, 85% roasted or processed
- Soybean imports for feed were 2.4 million tons in 2022, value €1.6 billion
- Wine imports totaled €1.2 billion in 2022, up 15% with France as main source
- Fish imports were €5.1 billion in 2022, seafood products dominant
- Vegetable oils imports hit €4.2 billion in 2022, palm oil 40%
- Agri-food trade surplus was €64.2 billion in 2022, highest ever recorded
- Exports to UK reached €8.9 billion in 2022, down 5% post-Brexit
- Live animal exports totaled €1.1 billion in 2022, calves primary
- Exports to US were €5.6 billion in 2022, cheese and snacks leading
- Cereal imports were €3.4 billion in 2022, wheat dominant at 60%
Export and Import Statistics Interpretation
While the Dutch are world-champions at exporting everything from tulips to Gouda, their own national pantry tells a more cosmopolitan tale, revealing a nation that imports the globe’s coffee, avocados, and wine to fuel its staggering €64 billion trade surplus, proving that true agricultural power lies not just in feeding others, but in tastefully feeding yourself.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, the Netherlands produced 1.2 million tons of fresh vegetables, with tomatoes accounting for 682,000 tons representing 57% of total vegetable output
- Dairy production in the Netherlands reached 14.8 billion kg of milk in 2022, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year, primarily from cows
- Pork production totaled 2.1 million tons carcass weight in 2022, with a slight decline of 0.5% due to reduced slaughter numbers
- The Netherlands harvested 1.8 million tons of potatoes in 2022, up 15% from 2021 thanks to favorable weather conditions
- Flower bulb production amounted to 1.4 billion bulbs in 2022, with tulips making up 65% of the total volume
- Greenhouse horticulture covered 10,400 hectares in 2022, producing vegetables worth €3.2 billion
- Cheese production hit 920,000 tons in 2022, with Gouda comprising 70% of output
- Poultry meat production reached 1.15 million tons in 2022, driven by broiler chickens at 95% share
- Apple production was 410,000 tons in 2022, a record high due to good pollination and weather
- Beef production stood at 585,000 tons carcass weight in 2022, down 3% from prior year
- Onion production totaled 1.95 million tons in 2022, up 20% supported by expanded acreage
- Seed potato production was 320,000 tons in 2022, with 70% exported as certified seed
- Mushroom production reached 450,000 tons in 2022, mainly white button mushrooms
- Sugar beet harvest yielded 6.2 million tons in 2022, producing 950,000 tons of sugar
- Asparagus production was 24,000 tons in 2022 from 7,500 hectares
- Wheat production amounted to 1.1 million tons in 2022, down 10% due to dry weather
- Strawberry production hit 140,000 tons in 2022, up 5% with open-field at 60%
- Flower production in horticulture was valued at €2.8 billion in 2022
- Egg production totaled 11.2 billion eggs in 2022, increase of 1.8%
- Carrot production reached 525,000 tons in 2022 from 8,200 hectares
Production Statistics Interpretation
It appears that in 2022, the Netherlands decided to become a global supermarket, specializing in half of Europe's tomatoes, an ocean of milk, a mountain of cheese, and enough tulips to hide the entire mess if needed.