The Dutch current account balance increased by €7.1 billion in the third quarter of 2023 compared to a year ago, reaching a record level of €32.2 billion. The increase can be attributed to developments in the goods account and the primary income.
© iStock
The current account balance is the difference between income from abroad and expenditure abroad in the current account. The current account includes international trade in goods and services, and income transactions such as interest, dividends and pension payments. The Netherlands has had a positive current account balance for many years.
At De Nederlandsche Bank, we independently compile statistics on the Dutch financial sector and economy. This article is based on these statistics. More information on our statistics and all dashboards can be found on our Statistics homepage.
The driver of the positive current account balance has traditionally been the surplus on the goods account, or the difference between imports and exports of goods. This surplus is €6.2 billion higher than a year ago because the value of imports (-15%) decreased more than the value of exports (-10%).
A second reason for the increase in the current account balance is a €2.2 billion increase in the primary income balance (from €3.9 billion in the third quarter of 2022 to €6.1 billion). This increase is largely due to interest income on DNB’s balance in TARGET2, the system used by commercial banks and central banks in the EU to transfer money to each other. A country's TARGET2 balance is the difference between incoming and outgoing cash flows accumulated since the introduction of this system.
DNB had a positive TARGET2 balance at the end of the third quarter of 2023. This means that Dutch banks received more money from abroad than they transferred abroad. DNB receives a fee on this positive TARGET2 balance which is based on the ECB's policy rate. This rate has risen in recent quarters to curb inflation in the euro area. TARGET2 interest income is more than offset by interest payments to Dutch banks holding deposits with DNB. However, this is not visible on the Dutch balance of payments, as this only reflects transactions with foreign countries.
Are you on top of things when it comes to the Dutch balance of payments, and do you want to impress your family, friends and colleagues? Or do you barely know what the balance of payments is, but do you enjoy a challenge? Perhaps you are a huge fan of pub quizzes. Make yourself comfy by the Christmas tree and enjoy the challenge and fun of DNB's big balance of payments Christmas quiz! Click here to take the quiz.
For additional explanation and charts on the balance of payments and current account, see our balance of payments dashboard.
Current figures can be found in Table 12.1 (the main table of the Dutch balance of payments).
More information about TARGET2 can be found here.
‘Our world is currently threatened by increasing fragmentation, both political and economic.’ concluded Olaf Sleijpen in his opening speech at the 8th Annual Macroprudential Conference, organised by the Bundesbank, the Riksbank and De Nederlandsche Bank.
Read more On how geo-economic fragmentation affects financial stability
The Dutch conduit sector is shrinking faster than previously assumed. This is one of the findings of a five-yearly revision of the balance of payments figures, the results of which are being published by DNB today.
Read more Contraction of Dutch conduit sector previously underestimated
‘Economic growth in the Netherlands is expected to pick up in the year ahead, spurring confidence in a “soft landing” for our economy.’ Klaas Knot said this today during the annual public session in the House of Representatives on macroeconomic risks to the financial system.
Read more Klaas Knot’s introductory statement for the Standing Parliamentary Committee for Finance
Trust in the financial institutions among Dutch households remained stable over the past year. This has emerged from a DNB survey of more than 2,400 households.
Read more Public trust in banks, insurers and pension funds remains stable
