Dutch exports have grown for the third month in a row and were up 1.1% in July compared with a year ago, according to new figures from the national statistics office CBS.

The value of exported goods totalled €35.5bn, a 2.6% rise on July 2013. Imports fell in both volume and value terms, resulting in a trade surplus of €3.4bn.

In particular, imports from non-EU countries were down, the CBS said.

Rising exports are seen by economists as a sign the Dutch economy is beginning to recover. Preliminary figures from August show continued growth, the CBS said.