Throughout the semester, the trade balance between Belgium and the rest of the world recorded an excess of 11.6 billion euros, against 10.4 billion at the same period in 2024. This slight improvement is explained by a higher decrease in imports compared to exports. Both have decreased, respectively, 1.3%, to 240.9 billion euros and 0.7%, to 252.5 billion euros.
Improving trade balance is mainly linked to the machinery and electrical equipment sector, as well as chemicals and pharmaceuticals. “This last sector particularly benefited from the strategy of certain companies which anticipated the increase in customs duties announced by the United States in April. This led to a stronger growth in sales to this country during the first three months of 2025, which was however not followed by commercial compensation in the following quarter,” said the BNB.
Belgian exports of chemicals and pharmaceuticals increased by 1.3 % in the first half, while imports decreased by 1.4 %. “Considering only figures in the second quarter, overall imports fell by 4.4 % and exports of 1.2 %. W
Regarding exchanges with the United States, exports decreased by 12.5% and imports increased by 9.5%. The international trade in goods stabilized at around 80 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the first half of 2025, after the strong fluctuations caused by the Pandemic of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.
