The Netherlands, which has traditionally attracted migrants from all over the world, continues to show a steady increase in the number of foreigners on its territory. This growth is driven by both the country’s economic potential and a well-developed social security system. Let’s look at the main groups of migrants, their role in the economy, and demographic trends related to migration.
As of the beginning of 2025, the population of the Netherlands is about 18 million people. According to official data, about 25% of the country’s population is of migrant origin (including the first and second generation of migrants). In recent years, direct population growth due to migration has consistently exceeded 100 thousand people annually.
Several groups can be distinguished in the structure of migrants.
Migrants from the European Union
The largest share of migrants is made up of citizens of EU countries, in particular Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. Polish migrants, whose number exceeds 200,000, occupy leading positions, especially in agriculture, construction, and logistics.
Middle East and Africa
Migrants from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Africa make up a significant group. Many of them came to the Netherlands as refugees. The number of Syrians in the country is estimated at almost 100 thousand people. The main focus is on their integration through vocational training and language learning programs.
Migrants from Turkey and Morocco
Traditional migration communities in the Netherlands include Turks and Moroccans, many of whom moved in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, they number around 400 thousand people (each group) and play an important role in small businesses and services.
South Asia
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of migrants from India and Pakistan, who work mainly in the IT sector and other highly skilled industries. The number of Indians has exceeded 50,000, and this group demonstrates significant potential for the country’s economic growth.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Former colonies of the Netherlands, such as Suriname, Curacao and Aruba, have had a strong historical influence on migration flows. Citizens of these territories have easier access to the country, making them a significant group.
Ukrainians
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the number of Ukrainian migrants has increased dramatically. As of the end of 2024, there are, according to various estimates, 70 to 100 thousand Ukrainian citizens in the Netherlands. They are actively engaged in agriculture, healthcare, and logistics.
Over the past ten years, the population of the Netherlands has grown by almost 1.2 million people. The main factor behind this growth is migration. While in the early 2010s, population growth was driven by both natural increase and migration, in recent years the contribution of migrants has become dominant. Significant changes in the structure of the population are also observed by age categories. Migrants from youth groups (18-35 years old) significantly reduce the problem of aging of the nation, which is acute for many European countries. Migrants play an important role in such industries as:
By 2030, experts predict a further increase in the number of migrants, due to both the ongoing inflow of labor migrants and global challenges such as climate change and international conflicts. The Netherlands remains one of the most open countries in Europe, able to integrate foreigners effectively.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analiz-mihratsii-ta-hrup-mihrantiv-u-ni/
“Transportlux Ukraine” invested about UAH 40 million in the construction of a bioethanol production plant in Raigorodka community (Zhytomyr region), said the head of Zhytomyr regional military organization Vitaliy Bunechko.
“The peculiarity of the production is that it responds to several challenges at once. This is the production of bioethanol, which from May this year should make up at least 5% of automobile fuel in Ukraine. So its own capacity for its production will allow not to spend extra money on exports, but to support domestic producers and the economy,” he wrote in Telegram.
Bunechko specified that the main raw material for the plant is food industry waste: animal fat, in particular from chicken farms, waste from vegetable oil production and others. Accordingly, another important problem is being solved – waste recycling.
“The plant is being built using advanced technologies and will help reduce dependence on traditional energy resources, create new jobs and contribute to the development of the region’s economy,” emphasized the head of Zhytomyr OVA.
According to regional media, the plant produced the first liter of biodiesel on Friday. They referred to the words of the investor, Moldovan citizen Mihail Popu, who expressed hope that biodiesel production will be part of the long-term strategy of energy independence of the region and will improve the social component of the community, where new jobs will be created and farmers will be able to sell oilseeds at more favorable conditions.
The investor added that the company intends to increase production in order to meet the demand for fuel not only in the community, but also to establish exports.
In 2024, Ukrainian sugar producers set a historical record for sugar exports, exporting 746.3 thousand tons of this product to foreign markets for $419 million, according to the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine (Ukrtsukor), which announced the TOP-5 sugar producers in the 2024 season, the association’s press service reported on Facebook.
According to the report, Radekhivskyi Sugar topped the ranking with a 31% share in the total Ukrainian production, followed by Astarta Agro Holding with 21% of the market share, and Ukrprominvest-Agro with 14%. The fourth and fifth positions were shared by Teofipolsky Sugar Plant and Aspek Group with equal production shares of 6%.
As reported, in the 2024 season, which ended on January 21, 2025, 29 sugar factories operated in Ukraine. They produced a total of 1.8 million tons of sugar.
In 2024, Ukrainian sugar producers set a historical record for exports of sugar produced in the 2023-2024 marketing year and supplied 746.3 thousand tons of this product to foreign markets for $419 million.
In the first half of January 2025, Ukraine reduced the volume of foreign trade in dairy products by 42.7% compared to the first half of December 2024 – to $15.8 million, the press service of the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine (UDEP) reported.
According to the report, exports decreased by 14%, imports – by 54%.
The industry association noted an increase in exports of butter and milk fats by 57%, while exports of milk and condensed cream decreased by 31%, and whey by 28%.
At the same time, imports of milk and cream not condensed increased by 75%, while imports of butter/milk fats decreased by 74% and cheeses of all kinds by 53%.
As reported, the industry media noted an increase in imports of rennet cheeses (hard, semi-hard, white) by 50% compared to December 2023 to 4.6 thousand tons. The supply of European processed cheeses increased by 28% to more than 500 tons in the same period.
In December 2024, Ukrainian steelmakers increased steel production by 4.1% compared to the same period in 2023, to 547 thousand tons from 520 thousand tons, and by 1.1% compared to the previous month, when they produced 541 thousand tons.
At the same time, Ukraine ranked 23rd among 71 countries in the ranking of global producers of these products compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
According to Worldsteel, in December 2024, steel production decreased compared to December 2023 in most of the top ten countries, except for China, India, Germany and Brazil.
The top ten steel producing countries in December are as follows: China (75.970 million tons, +11.8% by December 2023), India (13.582 million tons, +9.5%), Japan (6.907 million tons, -1.1%), the United States (6.684 million tons, -2.4%), and the Russian Federation (5.7 million tons, -8.6%), South Korea (5.209 million tons, -3.2%), Turkey (2.978 million tons, -7.6%), Germany (2.744 million tons, +4.1%), Iran (2.581 million tons, -8.2%) and Brazil (2.573 million tons, +1.8%).
Overall, in December 2024, steel production increased by 5.6% compared to the same period in 2023 to 144.460 million tons.
For 12 months of 2024, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China (1 billion 5,090 million tons, -1.7%), India (149,587 million tons, +6.3%), Japan (84,009 million tons, -3.4%), the United States (79,452 million tons, -2.4%), the Russian Federation (70,690 million tons, -7%), South Korea (63, 531 million tons, -4.7%), Germany (37.234 million tons, +5.2%), Turkey (36.893 million tons, +9.4%), Brazil (33.741 million tons, +5.3%) and Iran (30.952 million tons, +0.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 839.449 million tons of steel in 2024, which is 0.9% less than in 2023.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 7.575 million tons of steel in 2024, up 21.6% from 6.228 million tons in 2023. The country was ranked 20th in 2024.
As reported, in 2023, China produced 1 billion 19.080 million tons at the level of the previous year), India (140.171 million tons, +11.8%), Japan (86.996 million tons, -2.5%), the United States (80.664 million tons, +0.2%), The Russian Federation (75.8 million tons, +5.6%), South Korea (66.676 million tons, +1.3%), Germany (35.438 million tons, -3.9%), Turkey (33.714 million tons, -4%), Brazil (31.869 million tons, -6.5%) and Iran (31.139 million tons, +1.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 849.734 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.1% less than in 2022.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% lower than in 2022. The country was ranked 22nd in 2023.
In 2022, the top ten steel-producing countries were as follows: China (1.013 billion tons, -2.1%), India (124.720 million tons, +5.5%), Japan (89.235 million tons, -7.4%), the United States (80.715 million tons, -5.9%), the Russian Federation (71.5 million tons, -7.2%), South Korea (65, 865 million tons, -6.5%), Germany (36.849 million tons, -8.4%), Turkey (35.134 million tons, -12.9%), Brazil (33.972 million tons, -5.8%) and Iran (30.593 million tons, +8%).
Ukraine ranked 23rd in 2022 with 6.263 million tons of steel produced (-70.7%).
In total, 64 countries produced 1 billion 831.467 million tons of steel in 2022, which is 4.3% less than in 2021.
On January 24, the State Specialized Economic Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” announced a tender for compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance for owners of land vehicles (CMTPL). According to the electronic public procurement system Prozorro, the expected value of the insurance services is UAH 23.962 million.
The amount of the bid security: UAH 480 thousand. The deadline for submitting bids is February 1.
