Imports of goods from Gulf States to the Netherlands have fallen by two-thirds in one month due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Fuel imports from the Gulf States have fallen sharply as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This has been noticeable for some time, including in the prices at the petrol pump, but it is now also apparent figures published on Tuesday from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).

As with other European countries, most of what the Netherlands imports from the Gulf region consists of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. As ships could no longer navigate freely through the Strait of Hormuz, imports have taken a major hit. In April this year, the total import value of goods from the Gulf States was 67 percent lower than a month earlier.

Imports from Iran, which were already little traded, came to a complete standstill. The import value of goods from Saudi Arabia fell by 75 percent, for the United Arab Emirates this was 48 percent. Remarkably, the import value of Qatari goods was actually higher. CBS does not give a reason for this.

By far the largest part of the oil and gas from the Middle East goes to Asian countries, a limited part flows to Europe. According to Statistics Netherlands, 7 percent of the mineral fuels that the Netherlands imported in 2025 came from countries around the Persian Gulf.

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