THE HAGUE, 27/06/06 - Dutch exports of horticultural products grew by 5 percent in 2005 from a year earlier to 17 billion euros. The total value of Dutch goods exports surged over 10 percent.

Horticulture accounted for 6 percent of the total value of exports in 2005. The 17-billion euro total was nearly twice as much as the export value of natural and industrial gas. Horticultural exports also overtook exports of livestock products, valued at 12 billion euros, according to figures released yesterday by the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS).

Within the horticultural sector, cut flowers are the leading export product. In 2005, nearly 4 billion euros worth of cut flowers crossed the borders, with most being sold to Germany and the UK. Exports of house plants totalled 1.5 billion euros, with Germany the biggest customer.

The Netherlands had a record trade surplus of 32 billion euros last year, with the horticultural sector making a big contribution of over 10 billion euros. The chemicals sector however contributed the biggest trade surplus of 15 billion euros. The trade surplus for livestock farming products was about 6 billion euros.

Imports of horticultural products totalled 6.6 billion euros in 2005, up 5 percent from 2004. Compared with five years earlier, the increase was also 5 percent. About one-third of the imports were fruit.