---
title: Where are you missing out on export opportunities?
description: Nederlandse ondernemers die geraakt zijn door Brexit laten tot wel 40% van hun exportpotentieel onbenut, zo blijkt uit een nieuw rapport van onderzoeksbureau Ecorys.
---

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# [Where are you missing out on export opportunities?](https://taxperience.nl/en/news/where-are-you-missing-out-on-export-opportunities)

 Written by [Taxperience](https://taxperience.nl/en/news/author/taxperience) | April 2025

**Where Are You Missing Out on Export Opportunities?**

Dutch entrepreneurs affected by Brexit are leaving up to **40% of their export potential untapped**, according to a new report by research agency Ecorys. The good news is that there is **plenty of room for businesses to compensate for lost revenue in the United Kingdom (UK)** elsewhere. Discover the opportunities available to you through the **EU Trade Programme**.Since Brexit, exports to the UK have decreased by an average of **20%**. Can Dutch businesses recover this lost revenue in other markets?

Commissioned by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Ecorys investigated which export markets offer the most promising opportunities. According to the report *"Identifying market opportunities for Brexit-affected sectors"*, there is **€38.1 billion** in untapped export potential in the **G20 (excluding EU countries)**, and **€40.2 billion** within the **EU**. That’s nearly **€80 billion in potential opportunities for Dutch exports**.

**Promising Export Markets**

According to the Ecorys report, there is still a world to gain—**both within and outside the EU**. Several countries and regions stand out as particularly promising for certain sectors:

**Germany: Ample growth potential for vegetables, fruit, plants, and flowers**  
The Dutch arable and horticultural sector already holds a significant market share in Germany (31%). However, due to the market’s total size (€35 billion) and a sharp decline in imports from the UK (down 65%), there is still untapped export potential—particularly for:

- Fruit (€93 million)
- Plants and flowers (€741 million)
- Vegetables (€1.1 billion)

**Southern Europe: Promising for arable and horticulture**  
Southern Europe, like Germany, offers plenty of opportunity—especially for Dutch exports of plants and flowers, vegetables, tubers, and food products. There is growing demand for dairy products, grain, milk, flour, starch, potatoes, and animal feed, particularly in **Spain, Portugal, and Italy**. In Italy, for example, UK imports have dropped significantly (down 47% in arable and horticulture, and 33% in food products), opening the door for Dutch exports.

**Eastern Europe: Decline in UK imports creates opportunities**  
Eastern Europe is an expanding market for Dutch businesses, partly due to the decline in UK imports. **Poland** in particular shows great potential for the export of dairy, potatoes, and animal feed. While the Dutch market share is still relatively low (11%), the UK’s share has dropped drastically (down 46%). Additionally, there are export opportunities in **electronic equipment**. In **Poland** and more centrally located **Austria**, there are also promising opportunities for the **Dutch logistics sector**.

**Scandinavia: Strong opportunities in Sweden and Denmark**  
In **Scandinavia**, the drop in UK imports has also created more space for Dutch businesses. **Sweden and Denmark** are especially attractive export destinations. Popular sectors here include **food products**, **electronic devices**, **transport equipment**, and **ICT**. For example, the Swedish market for electronics and machinery is valued at **€72 billion** and is growing at **3.5% annually**.

**France: From train components to spacecraft**  
France is proving to be a promising growth market for the Dutch **transport equipment sector**, particularly for **train and tram components**, **aircraft and spacecraft**, and their parts. There is **€557 million** in untapped export potential in this sector.

**Opportunities Beyond Europe**

These are just a few examples of the many opportunities identified in the Ecorys report. There is also significant untapped export potential elsewhere within and outside Europe:

- **€368 million** in additional food exports to **South Korea**
- Strong demand for **electronic equipment** in **China (€1.3 billion)** and the **United States (€2.9 billion)**
- Continued global growth potential for Dutch staples like **plants and flowers**—with **€294 million** in untapped potential for **cut flowers** alone

**Seize Opportunities via the EU Trade Programme**

Has your business also been affected by Brexit? Then explore what opportunities are available to you through the **EU Trade Programme**, and how you can take advantage of them. This programme offers **free support** for identifying or expanding into promising international markets. There are no mandatory components—you choose the support you need. This could be a training course, advice on developing your trade strategy, or support for attending a trade fair or mission.

**Will You Take the Leap?**

A total of **€32 million** has been made available for the EU Trade Programme from the **Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR)**—an EU fund for businesses impacted by Brexit. There is a lot of support available, but the **programme is time-limited**. Will you seize the opportunity?

Visit [**www.rvo.nl/eu-handelsprogramma**](https://www.rvo.nl/eu-handelsprogramma) to learn how to participate.

[View full post](https://taxperience.nl/en/news/where-are-you-missing-out-on-export-opportunities)

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