What is striking: imports of electric cars are increasing dramatically, while demand is drying up

Last year, 44 percent more electric and hybrid cars were imported than in 2022. This makes them by far the most important factor in the import of technical goods that benefit the energy transition, with a total of 16.6 billion euros, says Marjolein Jaarsma, economist at the Network CBS. “More than 40 percent of the value of imports consists of this type of goods.”

The energy transition requires more and more technical goods, such as solar panels. This is reflected in import figures: Statistics Netherlands calculated that we spent 13 percent more money on importing technology last year than the year before. This mainly concerns the end products, such as solar panels and heat pumps, but also the technology required to start the various processes surrounding sustainable energy, such as magnets and batteries.

Jaarsma admits that the fact that the import of hybrid and electric cars is increasing is remarkable. The question is also how electric cars will return to import numbers next year. Compared to last year, there was also a significant decline in the import of solar panels, largely due to the abolition of the netting system. And with the impending cessation of subsidies for heat pumps, strikes are likely to occur there as well. “It's exciting, and we'll continue to monitor it.”

Processed inputs

While demand for such goods will continue to grow amid a growing global population and prosperity, these vital goods and raw materials are needed more, especially if you want to achieve them using fewer fossil fuels, Jaarsma says. This occurs mainly in “processed imports”, such as the gallium that is already in the solar panels we import from China. We import raw materials in their raw form much less, especially biomaterials such as lithium.

Processing into the final product is often done mainly in other countries, especially China. If this transportation is not included, Germany is the largest supplier, especially of hybrid and electric cars. The United States comes in third place, especially in multi-use technology, such as heat exchangers that can be used in multiple processes. “But even without transit, China comes in second place, mainly because of solar panels.”