Top Belgian Exports & Imports

Sugar, tea & nuclear fuels are fastest-growing Belgian exports to the U.S. while organic chemicals & pharmaceutical preparations lead American imports into Belgium.

With a population of 10.4 million, Belgium exported US$14.4 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2006, up 10.6% from 2005 and up 46.9% in 4 years.

Belgian imports from the U.S. rose 14.2% to $21.3 billion in 2006, up 60.2% since 2002.

In terms of the merchandise flow between the two countries, America’s trade surplus with Belgium was $6.9 billion in 2006, up 97.2% from 2002. The U.S. trade surplus with Belgium increased 22.4% in 2006 – down from the 28.1% deficit increase in 2005 from the year earlier.

Belgian Exports to U.S.

Of the $14.4 billion in American imports from Belgium in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Diamonds …US$2.8 billion (19.5% of Belgium to U.S. exports, down 0.4% from 2005)
2. Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical preparations … $2.3 billion (16%, up 78.3%)
3. Other petroleum products … $1.2 billion (8.1%, up 49.6%)
4. New & used passenger cars … $988.5 million (6.9%, down 20.1%)
5. Fuel oil … $892.5 million (6.2%, down 15.4%)
6. Goods returned to U.S. then reimported … $778.5 million (5.4%, up 15.3%)
7. Semi-finished iron & steel mill products … $360.5 million (2.5%, up 6%)
8. Industrial organic chemicals … $315.2 million (2.2%, up 6.7%)
9. Excavating, paving & construction machinery … $253.6 million (1.8%, down 0.9%)
10. Plastic materials … $223.2 million (1.5%, up 6.6%).

Fastest-Growing Belgian Exports to U.S.

Below are American imports from Belgium in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Cane and beet sugar … US$10.7 million (up 5,707% from 2005)
2. Tea, spices and preparations … $4.8 million (up 2,039%)
3. Nuclear fuels … $23.9 million (up 154%)
4. Precious metals other than gold … $222.4 million (up 144%)
5. Zinc … $33.4 million (up 122%).

Belgian Imports from U.S.

Of the $21.3 billion in American exports to Belgium in 2006, the following product categories had the highest values.

1. Organic chemicals … US$2.8 billion (13% of Belgium from U.S. imports, up 26.2% from 2005)
2. Pharmaceutical preparations … $2.3 billion (10.6%, up 22.6%)
3. Diamonds … $1.8 billion (8.5%, up 8.6%)
4. Plastic materials … $1.5 billion (7.2%, up 9.2%)
5. Other chemicals … $1.1 billion (5.1%, down 0.9%)
6. Medicinal equipment … $1 billion (4.7%, up 21.8%)
7. Toys, games and sporting goods … $490 million (2.3%, up 17.5%)
8. Other industrial machines … $484.1 million (2.3%, up 7.2%)
9. Other petroleum products … $378.2 million (1.8%, up 14.9%)
10. Industrial engines … $372.9 million (1.7%, up 17.6%).

Fastest-Growing Belgian Imports from U.S.

Below are American exports to Belgium in 2006 with the highest percentage sales increases from 2005.

1. Nursery stock … US$4.1 million (up 395% from 2005)
2. Non-farm tractor and parts … $162.6 million (up 367%)
3. Civilian aircraft … $182.1 million (up 348%)
4. Natural gas liquids … $1.3 million (up 210%)
5. Jewellery … $52.7 million (up 196%).

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics.

Old building with Belgian chocolate store

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