Belgium - Foreign trade



Belgium Foreign Trade 1780
Photo by: jorisvo

Foreign trade plays a greater role in the Belgian economy than in any other EU country except Luxembourg. Exports constituted 81% of GDP in 2000. Belgium's chief exports are iron and steel (semi-finished and manufactured), chemicals, textiles, machinery, road vehicles and parts, nonferrous metals, diamonds, and foodstuffs. Its imports are general manufactures, foodstuffs, diamonds, metals and metal ores, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, clothing, machinery, electrical equipment, and motor vehicles. Belgium is partnered with Luxembourg in the BLEU.

According to the Belgian government, Belgium's imports in 2000 (as a percentage of overall imports) were as follows:

Belgium

Food and live animals 6.8
Mineral fuels 8.8
Beverages and tobacco 1.1
Raw materials, other than mineral fuels 4.0

Principal exports of Belgium in 2000 (as a percentage of overall exports) were as follows:

Belgium

Machinery and transport equipment 29.0
Mineral fuels 4.4
Food and live animals 7.8
Chemicals 18.2
Beverages and tobacco 0.8

In 2000, more than 64% of Belgium's foreign trade was carried on with EU countries. France was the leading customer in 2000. Germany was the chief supplier from 1953 to 1999, replacing the US, which in the years immediately after World War II had surpassed France. However, in the year 2000, the

Netherlands usurped that position from Germany.

Machinery and transportation equipment make up the majority of Belgian export commodities, including passenger motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts and accessories (13.0%). Diamonds are another major export (7%), and Belgium is one of the world's largest exporters of floor coverings (1.1%). In 2000, the top seven exports are as follows:

Belgium

% OF COUNTRY TOTAL
Passenger motor vehicles 8.8
Diamonds 7.0
Polymers 5.6
Iron and steel 4.3
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products 3.7
Refined petroleum products 3.7
Floor coverings 1.1

Principal trading partners in 2000 (in millions of US dollars) were as follows:

Belgium

COUNTRY EXPORTS IMPORTS BALANCE
France 32,487 21,659 10,828
Germany 30,964 28,136 2,828
Netherlands 23,146 29,893 -6,747
United Kingdom 18,400 14,563 3,837
United States 10,953 12,893 -1,940
Italy 10,184 6,746 3,438
Spain 6,683 3,109 3,529
Luxembourg 3,720 977 2,743
India 3,193 1,593 1,600
Israel 3,497 1,487 2,010

User Contributions:

1
Jordan Smith
This website is very helpful! I can use this any time I have to look up major imports or exports of Belgium.
Wow this website covered all the information I need for my Geography Fair! I'm glad to know that there is someone out there who actually knows how to categorize their information! :)

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