by Free Country Flags

A founding member of the European Union, the Kingdom of Belgium borders the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France. Belgium also lies across the English Channel from the United Kingdom.

Belgium exported US$568.7 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2025. That dollar metric results from a 3.5% upturn compared to $549.5 billion five years earlier in 2021.

From 2024 to 2025, the total value of Belgian exports grew by 3.5% from $549.6 billion during 2024.

Belgium’s top 3 trading partners are Germany, France and the Netherlands. Collectively, that trio of geographically close-by importers bought exceeded two-fifths (44.9%) of overall Belgian exported goods in 2025.

The latest available country-specific data records that 74.9% of products exported from Belgium was bought by importers in: Germany (19% of the Belgian total), France (13%), Netherlands (12.9%), United States of America (6.3%), United Kingdom (5.5%), Italy (5.1%), Spain (3.8%), Poland (3%), Sweden (1.9%), mainland China (1.6%), Luxembourg (1.4%) and Switzerland (1.3%).

Applying a continental lens, more than three-quarters (78.2%) of Belgium’s exports by value was delivered to fellow European countries while 9.5% was sold to importers in Asia.

Belgium shipped another 7.6% worth of goods to North America.

Smaller percentages went to Africa (2.7%), Latin America (1.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Belgium is a founding member of the European Union. EU members paid for 69.7% of total Belgian export sales in 2025, exceeding the 63.9% for the prior year.

Over three-quarters (78.4%) of Belgian exports in 2025 was delivered to the above 15 trade partners.

Among the listed countries, the greatest percentage increases were paid by buyers located in Ireland (up 22.2% from 2024), Switzerland (up 16.6%), Spain (up 14.1%), Poland (up 10.6%) then Germany (up 10.1%).

The year-over-year decliners were the United Kingdom (down -4.7%) and the United States of America (down -3.9%).

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.

Among Belgium’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Belgian deficits with South Korea (up 20.5%), South Africa (up 14.9%) and Japan (up 14.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

In addition, Belgium reversed a $2.5 million surplus in 2024 trading with the United States of America to posting the deficit for 2025 listed above.

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.

Belgium posted a total US$30.9 billion trade surplus for 2025, expanding by 1.4% from $30.5 billion in black ink one year earlier in 2024.

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.

Among Belgium’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Belgian surpluses with Portugal (up 46.6%), Germany (up 21%) and Spain (up 17.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

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.

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 October 20, 2026

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 20, 2026

IMPORTERS.com The Online Market for G20 Importers, Belgium Import Export Directory. Accessed on October 20, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 20, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 20, 2026

Wikipedia, List of Companies of Belgium. Accessed on October 20, 2026