2024 saw China become Belgium’s largest non-EU supplier

24 June 2025

In March, the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency published its annual trade report, revealing that China had surpassed the United States to become Belgium’s leading non-European supplier in 2024.

Imports from the US to Belgium fell by 13% - from €36.1 billion in 2023 to €31.4 billion in 2024 - while imports from China decreased by just 3.6%, reaching €32.1 billion. Despite this slight decline, China took the top spot among non-EU suppliers. The Netherlands remained Belgium’s main overall trading partner, followed by Germany and France.

Leading export markets

Belgian exports to China also fell moderately in 2024, dropping by 3.8% to €7.88 billion. This makes China Belgium’s tenth largest export destination and its second largest non-EU customer after the United States. Germany remains Belgium’s leading export market, closely followed by France and the Netherlands. Despite occasional fluctuations, trade with China remains a key element of Belgium’s international economic relations.

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Nevertheless, the trade deficit with China remains significant. It peaked in 2022 at €35.3 billion, before easing slightly to €25.1 billion in 2023 and €24.2 billion in 2024. Key imports from China include electronics, machinery, textiles, chemicals and consumer goods. Belgium’s main exports to China are pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery, and food and drink.

Demand from China for Belgian biotech products, luxury food items such as chocolate and beer, and industrial services continues to rise. Around two-thirds of Chinese goods imported via Belgium are re-exported to other European markets, highlighting the country's strategic role as a logistics hub.

^{© Gerard Bottino/SOPA}

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