The world’s 20th wealthiest country in terms of Gross Domestic Product per capita, the Kingdom of Belgium imported US$395.9 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -7.5% decline from $427.8 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Belgium’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

A federal constitutional monarchy featuring a parliamentary system located in Western Europe, Belgium shares land borders with strategic trading partners. These include the Netherlands to Belgium’s north, Germany to its east, the world’s richest nation Luxembourg to its southeast and France to its southwest. Belgium also has a northwestern coastline with the North Sea.

Information in this article is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Belgian imports during 2020 for each of Belgium’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for almost three-quarters (72.6%) of total Belgian import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Belgian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Belgium’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Belgium amounted to $65.7 billion or 16.6% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 73.9% of Belgium’s imports from the Netherlands.

Mineral fuels including oil: $16.3 billion
Machinery: $5.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $5.1 billion
Vehicles: $3.3 billion
Organic chemicals: $34 billion
Plastics: $32 billion
Other chemical goods: $2.2 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1.9 billion
Dairy, eggs, honey: $1.6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.4 billion
Iron and steel: $1.3 billion
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $1.16 billion
Food waste, animal fodder: $1.15 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.1 billion
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $835.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from the Netherlands under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 28.5% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 26.5%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 24.9%), vehicles (up 17.4%) and food waste or animal fodder (up 9.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -37.1%) and organic chemicals (down -18.5%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Belgium amounted to $54.4 billion or 13.7% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 75.5% of Belgium’s imports from Germany.

Vehicles: $10.4 billion
Machinery: $5.3 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $4.5 billion
Electronic equipment: $3.2 billion
Plastics: $3.1 billion
Organic chemicals: $2.8 billion
Iron and steel: $2 billion
Gems, precious metals: $1.9 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.5 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.42 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.4 billion
Paper: $12 billion
Copper: $1 billion
Iron or steel products: $827.1 million
Aluminum: $710.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from Germany under the gems and precious metals product category via a 62.3% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 29.2%) and copper (up 15.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -24.3%), vehicles (down -20.2%), iron and steel as materials (down -18.9%), aluminum (down -17.2%) and electronic equipment (down -9.7%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Belgium amounted to $39 billion or 9.9% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 68.2% of Belgium’s imports from France.

Pharmaceuticals: $5.1 billion
Vehicles: $4.9 billion
Electronic equipment: $2.7 billion
Machinery: $2.5 billion
Iron and steel: $1.8 billion
Plastics: $1.6 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.3 billion
Cereals: $1.13 billion
Beverages: $1.12 billion
Other chemical goods: $17 billion
Dairy, eggs, honey: $998.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $637.2 million
Paper: $610.8 million
Organic chemicals: $604.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $594.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from France under the electronic equipment product category via an 11% gain in revenue and medical or technical equipment (up 7.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -34.6%), organic chemicals (down -21.2%), vehicles (down -20.8%), machinery (down -14.9%) then iron and steel as materials (down -14.4%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Belgium amounted to $27.7 billion or 7% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -14.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.5% of Belgium’s imports from America.

Pharmaceuticals: $5.5 billion
Vehicles: $3.4 billion
Organic chemicals: $3.2 billion
Machinery: $2.8 billion
Plastics: $2.52 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $2.49 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.1 billion
Other chemical goods: $952.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $637.7 million
Electronic equipment: $546.7 million
Rubber: $406.1 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $302.9 million
Ores, slag, ash: $270 million
Inorganic chemicals: $257.2 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $251.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from the United States under the ores, slag and ash product category via a 29.6% gain in revenue then gems and precious metals (up 25.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were pharmaceuticals (down -24.6%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -24.6%), vehicles (down -18.2%), rubber (down -15.8%), organic chemicals (down -15%) and electronic equipment (down -13.7%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Belgium amounted to $20.7 billion or 5.2% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 10.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81% of Belgium’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $3.1 billion
Machinery: $2.7 billion
Vehicles: $2.1 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.11 billion
Footwear: $19 billion
Other textiles, worn clothing: $1 billion
Furniture, lighting, signs: $939.3 million
Toys, games: $923.3 million
Plastics: $778 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $682 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $593.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $562.3 million
Iron or steel products: $513 million
Rubber: $313.9 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $297.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 294.6% gain in revenue, vehicles (up 97.7%), electronic equipment (up 22.7%), medical, technical equipment (up 15.8%), machinery (up 14.3%) and rubber (up 14.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were knitted or crocheted clothing (down -26.2%), items made from leather or animal gut (down -25.4%), footwear (down -17%) then unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -9.4%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from Ireland

In 2020, Ireland’s exports to Belgium amounted to $20.5 billion or 5.2% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 6.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.1% of Belgium’s imports from Ireland.

Pharmaceuticals: $12.6 billion
Organic chemicals: $6.3 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $480.4 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $244.1 million
Electronic equipment: $170.3 million
Machinery: $110.2 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $108.5 million
Meat: $94.9 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $47.2 million
Plastics: $42.9 million
Other chemical goods: $41 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $34.8 million
Other food preparations: $30.4 million
Beverages: $16 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $15.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from Ireland under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 972.4% gain in revenue, miscellaneous food preparations (up 66%), cereal or milk preparations (up 54.3%), pharmaceuticals (up 34.1%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 14.2%) and medical or technical equipment (up 13.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were beverages (down -50.9%), dairy, eggs and honey (down -30.5%), organic chemicals (down -23.5%), machinery (down -18%) then salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -13.2%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Belgium amounted to $16.9 billion or 4.3% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 9.2% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82% of Belgium’s imports from Italy.

Pharmaceuticals: $6.7 billion
Machinery: $1.8 billion
Vehicles: $1.5 billion
Plastics: $613 million
Electronic equipment: $526.3 million
Other chemical goods: $381.4 million
Organic chemicals: $341.6 million
Iron or steel products: $341 million
Medical, technical equipment: $289.5 million
Beverages: $263 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $262.9 million
Iron and steel: $229.2 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $207.4 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $182.8 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $170.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from Italy under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 53.2% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 26.1%), organic chemicals (up 25.7%), dairy, eggs and honey (up 18.2%), medical or technical equipment (up 13.5%) and beverages (up 9.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -12.5%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Belgium amounted to $16 billion or 4% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -13.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.6% of Belgium’s imports from Britain.

Vehicles: $2.6 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $2.3 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.8 billion
Machinery: $1.5 billion
Organic chemicals: $960.1 million
Electronic equipment: $870.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $646 million
Plastics: $645 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $554.1 million
Gems, precious metals: $441.9 million
Other chemical goods: $353.3 million
Iron and steel: $310.1 million
Rubber: $259.9 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $227 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $165.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from the United Kingdom under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 111.8% gain in revenue then soaps, lubricants and candles (up 3.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -48.6%), mineral fuels including oil (down -46.8%), rubber (down -28.6%), vehicles (down -27%), organic chemicals (down -20.2%) and plastics as a material (down -17.3%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Belgium amounted to $10.9 billion or 2.8% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.5% of Belgium’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $6.7 billion
Machinery: $1.2 billion
Electronic equipment: $709.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $422 million
Organic chemicals: $376.7 million
Plastics: $307 million
Pharmaceuticals: $268.9 million
Rubber: $232.4 million
Other chemical goods: $64.9 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $57.9 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $56.9 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $50.6 million
Ceramic products: $32.9 million
Iron or steel products: $31.7 million
Gems, precious metals: $27.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from Japan under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 20.9% gain in revenue and photographic or cinematographic goods (up 10.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were ceramic products (down -40%), base metal tools or cutlery (down -36.1%), machinery (down -23.6%), rubber (down -18.8%) and organic chemicals (down -15.3%).

Belgium’s Main Imports from Switzerland

In 2020, Switzerland’s exports to Belgium amounted to $9.6 billion or 2.4% of overall Belgian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 97.7% of Belgium’s imports from Switzerland.

Pharmaceuticals: $7.4 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $636 million
Machinery: $613.9 million
Organic chemicals: $221.6 million
Clocks, watches: $109.4 million
Electronic equipment: $97.6 million
Gems, precious metals: $85.5 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $44 million
Plastics: $37.2 million
Collector items, art, antiques: $28.3 million
Vehicles: $27.7 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $24.6 million
Other manufactured products: $22.7 million
Other food preparations: $20.3 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $17.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Belgian imports from Switzerland under the items made from leather or animal gut product category via a 20.5% gain in revenue, plastics as a material (up 15.8%) then clocks and watches (up 9.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Belgium’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -29%), base metal tools or cutlery (down -26.7%), electronic equipment (down -23%), machinery (down -15.7%), miscellaneous manufactured products (down -11.4%) then collector items, art and antiques (down -10.6%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Countries by GDP per Capita

Wikipedia, Belgium, Borders of Belgium

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Belgium’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries