The duration of Dutch export relations:Decomposing firm, country and product characteristics

Using Dutch transaction-level data on international trade we find that the intensive margin drives trade growth year by year. After 6 years, new trade relations cover about 50 % of Dutch exports. Only 25 % of the new relations specified by firm, product and destination survives after 2 years. The estimates conclude that new trade relations with new exporting firms or with new destinations have lower hazard rates than those with new products. If the destination is an EU country the hazard is much lower as is also case for higher initial sales.