Bèlgica: Visió econòmica i política
The Belgian economy is particularly open, with foreign trade representing 169% of GDP (World Bank, latest data available). In addition to being considered an export champion (12th in the world rank - WTO), Belgium plays an important role as a transit and distribution centre for other countries in the European Union. According to data from the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency, the majority of exports comprise chemical products (26.3%, even though their value was down EUR 28.9 billion from the previous year), mineral products (13%), transport equipment (11.4%), machinery and equipment (10.2%), base metals (7.3%), and plastics (6.6%). The main imports are chemical products (24.2%), mineral products (17.4%), machinery and equipment (13.2%), transport equipment (12%) and base metals (6.3% - data for 2023).
Belgium's role as a regional logistical hub makes its economy vulnerable to shifts in foreign demand, particularly with EU trading partners (who accounted for 67.3% of exports and 62.1% of imports in 2023). Germany remained the first customer (18.6%) in 2023, followed by France (13.5%), the Netherlands (13.2%), the U.S. (6%), and the UK (5.4%). The main suppliers were the Netherlands (26.5%), Germany (16.8%), France (14.3%), the United States (9.7%), and China (8.4% - data Belgian Foreign Trade Agency).
According to WTO data, in 2023, exports amounted to USD 562.4 billion, while imports reached USD 546.7 billion (-11.8% and -11.6% y-o-y, respectively). Exports of services totalled USD 148.3 billion, as imports stood at USD 155.6 billion. The country’s trade balance is generally positive, but in 2023 was negative for the second year in a row (-0.6% of GDP, from -1.5% one year earlier – data World Bank). According to the latest data from the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency, in the period Jan-Sep 2024, Belgium exported EUR 371.1 billion and imported EUR 356.6 billion. During the period, the EU accounted for 77.1% of total exports and 71.4% of imports.
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 428,878 | 397,957 | 527,496 | 618,868 | 546,765 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 446,910 | 421,842 | 549,253 | 637,673 | 562,439 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 124,500 | 119,336 | 134,299 | 138,533 | 155,668 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 123,667 | 118,454 | 135,467 | 137,284 | 148,315 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 166.5 | 164.2 | 157.2 | 172.6 | 193.1 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | -2,004 | 4,176 | 7,037 | 5,014 | -18,064 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | -1,651 | 3,344 | 8,876 | 6,605 | -21,996 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 2.0 | 2.0 | -5.6 | 10.7 | 4.9 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 1.1 | 2.4 | -5.0 | 11.3 | 5.1 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 83.4 | 81.8 | 77.7 | 85.8 | 97.7 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 83.1 | 82.4 | 79.4 | 86.8 | 95.3 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2024 | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) | 2028 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | -2.2 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | -2.9 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
Germany | 16.3% |
Netherlands | 13.5% |
France | 12.7% |
United States | 7.0% |
United Kingdom | 5.9% |
Italy | 4.6% |
Spain | 2.8% |
Poland | 2.6% |
Luxembourg | 1.9% |
Sweden | 1.8% |
China | 1.7% |
Türkiye | 1.3% |
Nigeria | 1.3% |
Switzerland | 1.3% |
India | 1.2% |
Japan | 1.1% |
United Arab Emirates | 1.0% |
Czech Republic | 1.0% |
Austria | 0.9% |
Norway | 0.9% |
See More Countries | 44.6% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
Netherlands | 21.2% |
Germany | 12.5% |
France | 11.6% |
United States | 6.7% |
Ireland | 4.5% |
Italy | 3.9% |
United Kingdom | 3.5% |
China | 3.4% |
Switzerland | 2.5% |
Spain | 2.4% |
Norway | 2.2% |
Japan | 2.1% |
Sweden | 1.9% |
Austria | 1.8% |
Poland | 1.8% |
Czech Republic | 1.2% |
India | 1.1% |
Russia | 0.9% |
Hungary | 0.9% |
Türkiye | 0.8% |
See More Countries | 43.5% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
135.7 bn USD of services exported in 2023 | |
40.69% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 31.46% |
Research and developmentResearch and development | 9.23% |
Other business servicesOther business services | 1.03% |
23.16% | |
14.85% | |
5.61% | |
3.93% | |
3.28% | |
3.01% | |
2.67% | |
1.78% | |
1.03% |
143.9 bn USD of services imported in 2023 | |
39.12% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 28.78% |
Research and developmentResearch and development | 10.34% |
Other business servicesOther business services | 1.01% |
21.42% | |
13.52% | |
12.31% | |
4.87% | |
3.11% | |
2.46% | |
2.24% | |
0.92% | |
0.02% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: February 2025
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