Belgium exported US$377.3 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2024. That dollar metric results from a -10.1% slowdown compared to $419.5 billion 5 years earlier in 2020.
From 2023 to 2024, the total value of Belgian exports reduced by -33.6% from $568.5 billion.
Belgium’s top 3 trading partners are Germany, Netherlands and France. Collectively, that trio of nearby importers bought exceeded two-fifths (40.8%) of overall Belgian exported goods in 2024.
The latest available country-specific data records that 72.5% of products exported from Belgium was bought by importers in: Germany (15.2% of the Belgian total), Netherlands (12.9%), France (12.7%), United States of America (7.9%), United Kingdom (6.3%), Italy (4.6%), Spain (3.2%), Poland (2.9%), Luxembourg (1.81%), mainland China (1.78%), Sweden (1.77%) and Türkiye (1.4%).
Applying a continental lens, 73.6% of Belgium’s exports by value was delivered to fellow European countries while 10.6% was sold to importers in Asia. Belgium shipped another 9.1% worth of goods to North America.
Located near the middle of Europe, Belgium is also a founding member of the European Union. EU members paid for 63.9% of total Belgian export sales in 2024, down from 74% in the year prior.
Smaller percentages went to customers based in Africa (4.4%), Latin America (1.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Belgium’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 15 of Belgium’s top trading partners. These are countries that imported the most Belgian shipments by dollar value during 2024. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Belgian exports.
- Germany: US$57.5 billion (15.2% of Belgium’s total exports)
- Netherlands: $48.8 billion (12.9%)
- France: $48 billion (12.7%)
- United States: $29.7 billion (7.9%)
- United Kingdom: $23.9 billion (6.3%)
- Italy: $17.2 billion (4.6%)
- Spain: $12.1 billion (3.2%)
- Poland: $10.8 billion (2.9%)
- Luxembourg: $6.8 billion (1.8%)
- mainland China: $6.7 billion (1.8%)
- Sweden: $6.7 billion (1.8%)
- Türkiye: $5.2 billion (1.4%)
- Switzerland: $5.1 billion (1.3%)
- Nigeria: $4.3 billion (1.1%)
- Czech Republic: $4 billion (1.1%)
More than three-quarters (76%) of Belgian exports in 2024 was delivered to the above 15 trade partners.
Among the listed countries, the severest percentage declines were paid by buyers in mainland China (down -24.9% from 2023), United Kingdom (down -23.5%), Switzerland (down -20.8%), Luxembourg (down -20.2%), Nigeria (down -18.4%) then the United States of America (down -12.6%).
Countries Causing Worst Trade Deficits
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
Belgium incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- Netherlands: -US$34.7 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2024)
- mainland China: -$26.6 billion
- Ireland: -$14.7 billion
- Japan: -$6.5 billion
- Norway: -$5 billion
- Switzerland: -$4.7 billion
- Vietnam: -$3.1 billion
- India: -$2 billion
- South Korea: -$1.8 billion
- South Africa: -$1.4 billion
Among Belgium’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Belgian deficits with Vietnam (up 32.9%), India (up 26.6%) and South Africa (up 18.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Belgium’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Belgium to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating Biggest Trade Surpluses
Belgium posted a total US$30.5 billion trade surplus for 2024, expanding by 72.7% from $17.7 billion in black ink one year earlier in 2023.
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
Belgium incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.
- Germany: US$34.8 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2024)
- France: $19.4 billion
- United Kingdom: $15 billion
- Poland: $8.1 billion
- Italy: $7 billion
- Luxembourg: $6 billion
- Spain: $5.3 billion
- Nigeria: $3.8 billion
- United Arab Emirates: $3.2 billion
- United States: $2.5 billion
Among Belgium’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Belgian surpluses with the United Kingdom (up 47.4%), Poland (up 40.4%) and the United Arab Emirates (up 35.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
In addition, Belgium reversed a -$4.6 billion trade deficit with the United States of America and a -$75.8 million deficit with Spain for 2023 to posting the surpluses listed above in 2024.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Belgium’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Belgium to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Companies Servicing Belgian Trading Partners
Belgium placed 11 corporations among the Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of major Belgian export companies that Forbes ranked.
- Anheuser-Busch InBev (beverages)
- Belgacom (telecommunications services)
- Delhaize Group (food retail)
- Solvay (diversified chemicals)
- UCB (pharmaceuticals)
- Umicore (diversified metals, mining)
According to IMPORTERS.com listings for Belgian suppliers, the following are examples of companies that ship products from Belgium to importing customers around the globe. Shown within parenthesis are products that the Belgian business provides.
- ANS Trading (clothing, footwear)
- Aor Trading (alcoholic beverages)
- Biosport (food supplements, vitamins)
- Brussels Trading Company (heavy equipment)
- Lyobel (frozen herbs)
- Medinvents (soft tissue biopsy systems)
- Mskx Company (hunting arms)
- Raw Materials Recycling (paper, plastics)
- VD Management (fresh/frozen seafood)
- Webby’s International SA (educational toys, games)
See also Belgium’s Top 10 Imports, Belgium’s Top 10 Exports, Germany’s Top Trading Partners and France’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on December 22, 2025
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on December 22, 2025
IMPORTERS.com The Online Market for G20 Importers, Belgium Import Export Directory. Accessed on December 22, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on December 22, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on December 22, 2025
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Belgium. Accessed on December 22, 2025