Dutch imports from the Gulf more than halve as Hormuz stays shut

Dutch imports from the Gulf more than halved in April as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz restricted shipments, with cargoes from Iraq drying up almost entirely, according to national statistics agency CBS.

Goods worth €293 million arrived from the seven Gulf states that border the strait, 55% below the 2025 monthly average and down 67% on March.

Iraq was hit hardest, with its exports to the Netherlands all but stopping. Imports from Saudi Arabia fell 75% and those from the United Arab Emirates 48%. Only Qatar sent more than usual.

The region is normally a source of crude oil and fuel: in 2025 the Netherlands imported €7.7 billion in goods from these countries, three-quarters of it oil and fuel, with Iraq alone accounting for 45% of that.

The drop follows the closure of the strait in early March, after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Because cargo ships take one to two months to reach the Netherlands, the full effect only showed up in April.

The Gulf accounts for just 7% of Dutch oil and fuel imports, with the rest coming from elsewhere. Even so, the closure has driven up prices on global oil markets, sending petrol to a record €2.51 a litre in March.

The government activated the first phase of its national fuel crisis plan in May as it prepared for possible shortages.