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.
- Diamonds …US$2.8 billion (19.5% of Belgium to U.S. exports, down 0.4% from 2005)
- Medicinal, dental and pharmaceutical preparations … $2.3 billion (16%, up 78.3%)
- Other petroleum products … $1.2 billion (8.1%, up 49.6%)
- New & used passenger cars … $988.5 million (6.9%, down 20.1%)
- Fuel oil … $892.5 million (6.2%, down 15.4%)
- Goods returned to U.S. then reimported … $778.5 million (5.4%, up 15.3%)
- Semi-finished iron & steel mill products … $360.5 million (2.5%, up 6%)
- Industrial organic chemicals … $315.2 million (2.2%, up 6.7%)
- Excavating, paving & construction machinery … $253.6 million (1.8%, down 0.9%)
- 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.
- Cane and beet sugar … US$10.7 million (up 5,707% from 2005)
- Tea, spices and preparations … $4.8 million (up 2,039%)
- Nuclear fuels … $23.9 million (up 154%)
- Precious metals other than gold … $222.4 million (up 144%)
- 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.
- Organic chemicals … US$2.8 billion (13% of Belgium from U.S. imports, up 26.2% from 2005)
- Pharmaceutical preparations … $2.3 billion (10.6%, up 22.6%)
- Diamonds … $1.8 billion (8.5%, up 8.6%)
- Plastic materials … $1.5 billion (7.2%, up 9.2%)
- Other chemicals … $1.1 billion (5.1%, down 0.9%)
- Medicinal equipment … $1 billion (4.7%, up 21.8%)
- Toys, games and sporting goods … $490 million (2.3%, up 17.5%)
- Other industrial machines … $484.1 million (2.3%, up 7.2%)
- Other petroleum products … $378.2 million (1.8%, up 14.9%)
- 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.
- Nursery stock … US$4.1 million (up 395% from 2005)
- Non-farm tractor and parts … $162.6 million (up 367%)
- Civilian aircraft … $182.1 million (up 348%)
- Natural gas liquids … $1.3 million (up 210%)
- Jewellery … $52.7 million (up 196%).
See also Belgium's Top Imports & Exports 2008.
Sources
This analysis is based on latest statistics from the US Census Bureau - Foreign Trade Statistics and CIA World Factbook as of the date of article publication.
