Imports from Russia to Dutch ports plummeted last year in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, latest official figures show.

Russia remained the largest source of imports, but the total quantity was down by 32%, the statistics agency CBS said.

The total volume of goods loaded and unloaded was up by 1.2%, mainly as a result of more goods arriving from the United States.

Liquid gas imports from the US were up by 98% as European countries looked for alternative sources to Russian pipeline gas.

This year’s figures are expected to confirm that the US has overtaken Russia as the main exporter of goods to Europe via the Netherlands, after stricter EU sanctions on Russian oil and gas came into force in December 2022.

In total 433 million tons were unloaded in 2022, an increase of 4.3% on the previous year, while the amount of goods loaded onto vessels declined by 8.8% to 189 million tons.

Imports of wet bulk goods, which includes oil and natural gas, were up by 8.8%, while dry bulk goods, including coal, increased by 4.3%. Imports via shipping containers declined by 7.2%.