THE Netherlands' exports to Hongkong have doubled in less than two years according to the trade Consul, Mr Klaas Ruijg.
Overall trade growth has averaged 20 per cent per year for more than a decade, but leapt to more than 60 per cent last year on the back of a four-year nickel boom.
The Netherlands imports the nickel ore, treats it and exports the clean non-ferrous metal to Hongkong.
The value of nickel exports in 1992 was just under HK$2 billion - representing a rise of more than 400 per cent on the previous year.
''Electrical equipment manufacturers apparently buy nickel in bulk at three or four yearly intervals. It gives our trade pattern rather an uneven look, but we don't mind,'' Mr Ruijg said.
The principal Dutch exports to Hongkong are dyeing, tanning and colouring materials for the garment industry, a variety of electrical machinery and appliances, dairy products and eggs, clocks, optical goods and photographic equipment, organic chemicals, plastics and book-binding machinery.