Dutch exports to Russia down 40% after MH17 tragedy

Dutch exports to Russia were down  nearly 40%  in the first four months of 2015 as relations between the two countries continue to suffer  following last July’s  downing of the MF17 Malaysian flight over  Ukraine which was carrying a large number of Dutch nationals.
The value of exports has fallen from €2.07bn to €1.26bn according to the official statistics although exports of agricultural machinery may be bucking the trend and rose from €6.5m to €11m in April. Analysts put the growth down to the Russian agricultural sector’s demand for better technology in the face of its government’s ban on EU food imports.