Regional turmoil sends Dutch imports from Persian Gulf states plunging

The value of Dutch imports from Persian Gulf countries fell by more than half in April compared with the average monthly level of the previous year, amid the outbreak of war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Netherlands’ Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

In April, the Netherlands imported goods worth €293 million from seven countries in the region — Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — a 55% decline from the average monthly level recorded in 2025. Compared with March 2026, imports dropped by 67%.

The sharpest decline was recorded in trade with Iraq. According to CBS, imports from the country “virtually came to a halt.” Imports from Saudi Arabia were 75% below the 2025 monthly average, while imports from the UAE fell by 48%. Imports from Iran, which had already been limited, declined by 76%. Qatar was the only exception, with imports exceeding last year’s average level.

CBS linked the decline in imports to the start of the US military operation against Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key export route for Gulf states. The agency also noted that cargo deliveries from the region to the Netherlands typically take between one and two months, meaning the full impact of the restrictions became visible only in April’s trade data.

In 2025, the Netherlands imported €7.7 billion worth of goods from countries located along the Strait of Hormuz, averaging €642 million per month. Around three-quarters of that volume consisted of mineral fuels, including crude oil and refined petroleum products. Persian Gulf states accounted for more than 7% of the Netherlands’ total imports of mineral fuels, with Iraq alone supplying about 45% of those imports.

By Jeyhun Aghazada