The Netherlands is the largest beer exporter in the EU, Belgium is the largest French fries exporter

The Netherlands is the largest beer exporter in the European Union (2.0 billion euro in 2023), closely followed by Belgium (1.7 billion euros). Belgium is the most important exporter of frozen potato products (3.4 billion euro) and the Netherlands second (1.6 billion euros). The largest chocolate exporter in the EU is not Belgium (second with 3.7 billion euro export) or the Netherlands (fourth with 2.5 billion euros) but Germany (5.8 billion euros).

Most of the Dutch beer goes to the United States, while Belgian beer is primarily exported to France and the Netherlands. Belgian fries are common in the United Kingdom and France and Dutch fries are the most popular in the United Kingdom. Belgian chocolate is most popular in the Netherlands and Dutch chocolate in Germany.

Export value of Belgian fries exports more than doubled in two years

Since 2021, the Belgian export value of frozen potato products (of which approximately four fifths are fries) has more than doubled. This was because the quantity increased by 12 percent (partly due to new chip factories, also from Dutch companies) and export prices almost doubled. The quantity of frozen potato products that the Netherlands exported actually decreased by 5 percent during this period. Until 2018, the Netherlands had a greater export value than Belgium every year, but since then the gap with Belgium has increased. Belgian fries exports have definitely grown fastest to nearby countries, but faster in percentage terms to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Australia and South Africa.

The Netherlands has been a larger beer exporter than Belgium for decades

Since the first comparisons in 1988, the Netherlands has been a larger exporter of beer than Belgium. However, the lead over Belgium is no longer as big as it once was. In recent years, there has been turnover growth in Dutch exports to France, South Africa and Paraguay. Belgium overtook the Netherlands as chocolate exporter in 1991 and has exported more than the Netherlands every year since. In recent years, Belgian chocolate exports to the Netherlands have grown the most, and Dutch exports to Germany.

Belgium is the most important supplier of chocolate and beer to the Netherlands

Of all Dutch chocolate imports, 38 percent (459 million euro) from Belgium. More than a third (35 percent) also come from there in the vegetables and roots category (including potatoes and fries). In the case of alcoholic beverages, Belgium accounts for 19 percent of Dutch imports. By far the most important product in this category, with a share of 58 percent, is beer.

Of the total Dutch imports of food and drinks – in total 44.6 billion euro in the first three quarters of 2023 – came 7.0 billion euros (16 percent) from Belgium. Only Germany has 8.8 billion euros a larger supplier.

Internationalization monitor on Belgium

In the latest edition of the Internationalization Monitor, CBS highlights the Belgian economy and the focus is on the trade relationship between the Netherlands and Belgium. How are both countries doing in terms of innovation, digitalization and sustainability? The interconnectedness of both countries in global value chains is also discussed, as are the labor markets of and border commuting between the two countries.