Exports from the Netherlands rose marginally in August, with an increase of 2.5% in volume terms. The rise was higher than in the previous three months, the national statistics office CBS said.

At the same time, imports were down 2.3%, the CBS said. The changes took the trade surplus to €3.4bn, double the August 2012 figure.

The value of exports of chemical products ‘plummeted’ while the value of imports of raw materials and mineral fuels was down, particularly from non-EU countries.