Belgium Trade Surplus Narrows in August

Belgium’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR 816.6 million in August 2026, from EUR 1,272.2 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 14.9% to EUR 43,989.3 million, supported by higher shipments to EU member states (15.8%) and non-EU countries (12.8%). Meanwhile, imports increased 16.6% to EUR 43,172.7 million, as purchases from EU member states went up 19.5% and those from non-EU countries rose 12.4%. For the first eight months of the year, the trade surplus widened sharply to EUR 26,266.1 million, compared with EUR 15,565.9 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Belgium’s trade surplus widened to a record EUR 6,479.3 million in July 2026, from EUR 2,718.6 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 4.6% year-on-year to EUR 46,295.8 million, driven by higher shipments to EU member states (3.4%) and non-EU countries (7.1%). Meanwhile, imports declined 4.2% to EUR 39,816.5 million, reflecting a 17.2% drop in purchases from non-EU countries. In contrast, imports from EU member states increased 5.3%. For the first seven months of the year, Belgium’s trade surplus widened sharply to EUR 31,354.2 million, compared with EUR 14,293.7 million in the corresponding period a year earlier.

Belgium's trade surplus widened sharply to a record EUR 6,442.1 million in June 2026 from EUR 1,980.7 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports climbed 8.3% to an over one-year high of EUR 47,145.0 million, driven by stronger shipments to EU member states (7.5%) and non-EU countries (10.2%). Meanwhile, imports fell 2.0% to EUR 40,702.8 million, reflecting an 11.4% plunge in purchases from non-EU countries, which more than offset a 3.8% increase in imports from EU member states. In the first half of the year, the trade surplus widened substantially to EUR 26,435.7 million, compared with EUR 10,731.9 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.