Rising cheese exports underline strength of Dutch agriculture

RIJSWIJK – The export volume of Dutch cheese has risen by six percent in the first nine months of 2010 over the same period the year before. The tonnage increased by 24,000 to 431,622 tons of which 360,410 tons remained in the European Union. Germany remains the largest customer with 151,600 tons, while non-EU countries took 71,200 tons, an increase of 12,600 tons. It is known as well that export to Russia has increased significantly. Exports to Italy, Spain and Greece expanded but the U.K., Belgium and Sweden purchased fewer tons of Dutch cheese. No financial data was released, but the fact is that cheese prices have risen too. Agricultural exports are a significant component of Dutch exports even though the number of farms and employment at the farm gate has been declining steadily for years.