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Belgium trade in 2024

In 2024, Belgium exported $387.4 billion and imported $388.7 billion, with nearly balanced trade. It was the world's 18th-largest exporter, with 1.7% of world exports. Its top export was refined petroleum (8.9% of the total) and its main trading partner was the Netherlands (18.7% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$387.4billion
Imports
$388.7billion
Trade balance
-$1.3billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Refined petroleum (8.9%) and vaccines, blood and antisera (7.3%) together make up 16.2% of its exports.

  1. Refined petroleum$34.3 billion · 8.9%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  2. Vaccines, blood and antisera$28.4 billion · 7.3%
    Main partner: United States
  3. Natural gas and LPG$22.5 billion · 5.8%
    Main partner: France
  4. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$22.2 billion · 5.7%
    Main partner: United States
  5. Cars$18 billion · 4.7%
    Main partner: Sweden
  6. Diamonds$8.9 billion · 2.3%
    Main partner: India
  7. Industrial fatty acids and oils$5.2 billion · 1.3%
    Main partner: France
  8. Chocolate$5 billion · 1.3%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  9. Auto parts$4.9 billion · 1.3%
    Main partner: France
  10. Frozen vegetables$4.5 billion · 1.2%
    Main partner: United Kingdom

What it imports

Cars (7.7%) and medicines in measured doses or retail packs (5.8%) together make up 13.5% of its imports.

  1. Cars$30.1 billion · 7.7%
    Main partner: Germany
  2. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$22.4 billion · 5.8%
    Main partner: Italy
  3. Crude petroleum$22.1 billion · 5.7%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  4. Vaccines, blood and antisera$17 billion · 4.4%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  5. Refined petroleum$16.5 billion · 4.2%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  6. Natural gas and LPG$16.3 billion · 4.2%
    Main partner: Norway
  7. Auto parts$7.5 billion · 1.9%
    Main partner: Germany
  8. Diamonds$6.3 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: India
  9. Medical and dental instruments$4.7 billion · 1.2%
    Main partner: Mexico
  10. Trucks$3.6 billion · 0.93%
    Main partner: France
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
27 · Oil, gas and coal$61.3 billion$61.1 billion
30 · Pharmaceuticals$52.2 billion$44.4 billion
87 · Vehicles$30.9 billion$45.7 billion
39 · Plastics$24.8 billion$14.9 billion
84 · Mechanical machinery$21.8 billion$30.3 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$16.5 billion$15.8 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$15.2 billion$9.6 billion
72 · Iron and steel$14.7 billion$9.3 billion
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$11.8 billion$22.8 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$9.4 billion$5.9 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$7.2 billion$11.8 billion
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$6 billion$2.2 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$5.6 billion$4.6 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$5.1 billion$4.9 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$5 billion$2.8 billion
74 · Copper$4.5 billion$4.8 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$4.4 billion$3.6 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$4.3 billion$5 billion
02 · Meat and offal$4.1 billion$2 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$3.8 billion$2.9 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$3.6 billion$1.9 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$3.4 billion$4.5 billion
15 · Fats and oils$3.3 billion$3.6 billion
76 · Aluminum$3.2 billion$3.1 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$3.1 billion$2 billion
21 · Food preparations$3.1 billion$1.8 billion
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$3 billion$3.1 billion
07 · Vegetables$2.9 billion$2.8 billion
40 · Rubber$2.8 billion$4 billion
44 · Wood$2.7 billion$2.7 billion
64 · Footwear$2.5 billion$1.3 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$2.5 billion$2.2 billion
31 · Fertilizers$2.3 billion$939 million
17 · Sugar and sweets$2.2 billion$1.2 billion
70 · Glass$2.2 billion$2 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$1.9 billion$2.9 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$1.7 billion$3.5 billion
11 · Milling products and malt$1.7 billion$614 million
08 · Fruit and nuts$1.7 billion$3.1 billion
89 · Ships and boats$1.4 billion$667 million
79 · Zinc$1.3 billion$628 million
16 · Prepared meat and fish$1.2 billion$1.5 billion
24 · Tobacco$1.2 billion$1.4 billion
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$1.2 billion$650 million
62 · Woven clothing$1.2 billion$2.5 billion
25 · Salt, stone and cement$1.1 billion$1.3 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$1.1 billion$816 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$995 million$234 million
95 · Toys and sports gear$964 million$1.1 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$957 million$1.5 billion
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$902 million$2 billion
01 · Live animals$893 million$631 million
26 · Ores and slag$851 million$3.8 billion
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$825 million$400 million
37 · Photographic goods$792 million$313 million
49 · Books and printed matter$774 million$694 million
82 · Tools and cutlery$715 million$914 million
69 · Ceramics$649 million$672 million
42 · Leather goods and bags$588 million$803 million
97 · Art and antiques$583 million$491 million
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$583 million$868 million
06 · Live plants and flowers$583 million$522 million
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$526 million$996 million
12 · Oilseeds and grains$512 million$2.3 billion
10 · Cereals$507 million$2.3 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$489 million$1.4 billion
53 · Other plant fibers$486 million$327 million
54 · Synthetic filaments$476 million$527 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$453 million$438 million
59 · Coated and technical textiles$453 million$208 million
47 · Wood pulp$401 million$456 million
78 · Lead$391 million$146 million
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$317 million$504 million
80 · Tin$307 million$223 million
75 · Nickel$287 million$424 million
86 · Railway equipment$253 million$520 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$207 million$94 million
81 · Other base metals$198 million$513 million
05 · Other animal products$164 million$164 million
52 · Cotton$139 million$119 million
58 · Special fabrics and lace$132 million$79 million
91 · Watches and clocks$104 million$307 million
13 · Gums and plant extracts$94 million$115 million
60 · Knitted fabric$78 million$83 million
41 · Hides and leather$78 million$35 million
65 · Hats$78 million$115 million
36 · Explosives and matches$65 million$58 million
51 · Wool$56 million$56 million
92 · Musical instruments$56 million$64 million
14 · Other plant products$25 million$32 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$24 million$60 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$20 million$38 million
45 · Cork$7 million$24 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$7 million$31 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$3 million$8 million
50 · Silk$2 million$4 million

Trading partners

The Netherlands is its main destination (15.4% of exports) and source (22% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
Netherlands59.715.4%Land
France57.314.8%Land
Germany52.213.5%Land
United States26.66.9%Air
Italy25.96.7%Sea
United Kingdom18.64.8%Sea
Spain10.42.7%Sea
Poland8.52.2%Sea
Sweden8.42.2%Sea
China6.51.7%Air

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
Netherlands85.422%Land
Germany51.513.3%Land
France46.111.9%Land
United States23.26%Air
Italy17.64.5%Sea
China14.43.7%Sea
United Kingdom11.93.1%Sea
Ireland10.72.7%Air
Spain10.12.6%Sea
Switzerland8.92.3%Air

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, Belgium accounted for 1.7% of world exports, compared with 3% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 2.5-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 387
  • Imports 389
  • Balance -1.3

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$152.6 billion$152.1 billion$490 million
1996$151.6 billion$159.2 billion-$7.6 billion
1997$152.6 billion$163.3 billion-$10.7 billion
1998$155.3 billion$172 billion-$16.7 billion
1999$148.3 billion$169.9 billion-$21.5 billion
2000$153.3 billion$183.8 billion-$30.5 billion
2001$155.8 billion$185.2 billion-$29.4 billion
2002$168.9 billion$204.8 billion-$35.9 billion
2003$193.9 billion$238.7 billion-$44.8 billion
2004$233.8 billion$289.7 billion-$55.9 billion
2005$259.9 billion$321.9 billion-$62 billion
2006$288.1 billion$357.9 billion-$69.8 billion
2007$331.9 billion$417.1 billion-$85.2 billion
2008$367.3 billion$462 billion-$94.6 billion
2009$282 billion$356.8 billion-$74.7 billion
2010$297.7 billion$302.7 billion-$5 billion
2011$359.3 billion$360 billion-$699 million
2012$329.1 billion$337.8 billion-$8.6 billion
2013$341.8 billion$348.2 billion-$6.4 billion
2014$344.5 billion$347.6 billion-$3.2 billion
2015$290.1 billion$282.1 billion$7.9 billion
2016$297.1 billion$297.1 billion$24 million
2017$323.7 billion$326.4 billion-$2.7 billion
2018$355.9 billion$361 billion-$5.1 billion
2019$340.3 billion$340.1 billion$219 million
2020$329.9 billion$312.9 billion$17 billion
2021$429.5 billion$403.2 billion$26.3 billion
2022$476.8 billion$466.3 billion$10.5 billion
2023$415.6 billion$437.4 billion-$21.8 billion
2024$387.4 billion$388.7 billion-$1.3 billion

World rank

Belgium fell from 10th to 18th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 10th in 1995
  • 18th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
199510th
199610th
199710th
199810th
199911th
200013th
200112th
200211th
200311th
200411th
200511th
200612th
200712th
200812th
200912th
201014th
201114th
201215th
201316th
201415th
201514th
201614th
201715th
201814th
201915th
202015th
202113th
202213th
202315th
202418th

What it sells

Oil, gas and coal became its top export group: from 2% to 16%

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 39%
  • Iron and steel 4%
  • Gems and precious metals 4%
  • Organic chemicals 4%
  • Mechanical machinery 6%
  • Plastics 6%
  • Vehicles 8%
  • Pharmaceuticals 13%
  • Oil, gas and coal 16%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Oil, gas and coal2.3%15.8%
Pharmaceuticals2.3%13.5%
Vehicles15%8%
Plastics7.6%6.4%
Mechanical machinery7.9%5.6%
Organic chemicals4.1%4.3%
Gems and precious metals6.8%3.9%
Iron and steel6.9%3.8%
Other47.2%38.7%

Who it trades with

Germany went from 19% to 13% of Belgium's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • Netherlands 19%
  • Germany 13%
  • France 13%
  • United States 6%
  • Italy 6%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
Netherlands15.2%18.7%
Germany19.4%13.4%
France16.4%13.3%
United States5.1%6.4%
Italy5.4%5.6%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • ArcelorMittal Gent steel plantSteel · 9.4 Mt CO₂e
  • Zelzate 2 Knippegroen power stationPower · 1.7 Mt CO₂e
  • Gaurain Cement PlantCement · 1.3 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Brussels$588.4 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Liège$61.3 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
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Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries