Beyond the famous waffles and chocolates lies a powerhouse: Belgium's food industry is a colossal economic engine that feeds both its people and the world, producing millions of tons of iconic goods, employing tens of thousands, and generating billions in trade each year.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Belgium's food and beverage manufacturing sector produced 4.2 million tons of processed meat products
- Belgium's annual chocolate production reached 243,000 tons in 2023, primarily from major producers like Barry Callebaut
- Dairy production in Belgium totaled 3.8 billion liters of milk in 2022, with 45% processed into cheese
- In 2022, Belgian food exports to the EU reached €15.2 billion, with meat products at 25% share
- Chocolate exports from Belgium totaled €4.8 billion in 2023, to over 100 countries
- Beer exports volume was 1.2 billion liters in 2022, valued at €1.5 billion
- In 2022, food imports to Belgium amounted to €20.5 billion, with tropical fruits at 12%
- Coffee imports reached 85,000 tons valued at €1.2 billion in 2023
- Soybean imports for food processing totaled 2.5 million tons in 2022
- In 2022, the Belgian food industry employed 92,000 direct workers
- Food processing sector had 28,000 jobs in Wallonia in 2023
- Chocolate industry employs 8,500 people in Flanders as of 2022
- Food industry turnover reached €68 billion in 2022
- Chocolate market size was €5.2 billion in 2023 retail sales
- Beer market revenue hit €3.8 billion in 2022
Belgium's robust food industry is a diverse and vital exporter.
Consumption
- Annual beer consumption per capita was 83 liters in 2022
- Chocolate consumption averaged 5.6 kg per person in 2023
- Milk consumption totaled 220 liters per capita annually in 2022
- Fresh vegetable intake was 85 kg per capita in 2023
- Meat consumption per capita reached 78 kg in 2022
- Bread consumption averaged 45 kg per person yearly in 2023
- Soft drinks intake was 85 liters per capita in 2022
- Frozen food consumption grew to 28 kg per capita in 2023
- Potato products eaten 85 kg per person annually in 2022
- Organic food consumption share 4.2% of total in 2023
- Pet food per pet averaged 25 kg yearly in 2022
- Snacks consumption 15 kg per capita in 2023
- Ready meals intake 25 kg per person in 2022
- Fruit juice consumption 12 liters per capita annually in 2023
- Cheese consumption totaled 22 kg per person in 2022
Consumption Interpretation
Belgians are essentially building themselves out of beer and potatoes while modestly sprinkling in vegetables, as if constructing a hearty but slightly tipsy human pyramid.
Employment
- In 2022, the Belgian food industry employed 92,000 direct workers
- Food processing sector had 28,000 jobs in Wallonia in 2023
- Chocolate industry employs 8,500 people in Flanders as of 2022
- Beer sector workforce totaled 7,200 in 2023, including brewers and distributors
- Dairy industry jobs numbered 15,000 in 2022
- Bakery employment reached 22,000 workers in 2023
- Meat processing plants employed 18,500 in 2022
- Vegetable processing sector had 12,000 jobs in 2023
- Potato industry workforce was 10,500 in 2022
- Beverage manufacturing employed 14,000 in 2023
- Confectionery sector jobs totaled 9,200 excluding chocolate in 2022
- Frozen food industry employed 8,000 workers in 2023
- Organic food production jobs grew to 4,500 in 2022
- Pet food manufacturing had 3,800 employees in 2023
- Oils and fats sector workforce was 5,200 in 2022
- Convenience foods employed 11,000 in 2023
- Food logistics and distribution added 25,000 indirect jobs in 2022
- R&D roles in food industry numbered 2,500 in 2023
- Female workforce in food processing was 42% or 38,000 in 2022
- Apprenticeships in food sector trained 1,200 youths annually in 2023
- Average salary in food manufacturing was €42,500 gross per year in 2022
- Unemployment rate in food sector was 3.2% in 2023, below national average
- Seasonal workers in food processing peaked at 15,000 during harvests 2022
Employment Interpretation
While Belgium's 92,000 food workers may be divided by sector and region, they are united in a deliciously serious mission: keeping the nation happily fed, from the 28,000 Walloon processors to the 8,500 Flemish chocolatiers and the 7,200 guardians of our sacred beer.
Exports
- In 2022, Belgian food exports to the EU reached €15.2 billion, with meat products at 25% share
- Chocolate exports from Belgium totaled €4.8 billion in 2023, to over 100 countries
- Beer exports volume was 1.2 billion liters in 2022, valued at €1.5 billion
- Dairy exports hit €3.1 billion in 2023, with cheese leading at €1.2 billion
- Processed vegetables exports reached €2.4 billion in 2022
- French fries exports totaled 1.8 million tons worth €1.9 billion in 2023
- Confectionery exports excluding chocolate were €800 million in 2022
- Meat exports volume was 900,000 tons in 2023, valued at €4.5 billion
- Bakery products exports reached €1.2 billion in 2022
- Sugar exports totaled 400,000 tons worth €300 million in 2023
- Oils and fats exports were €1.1 billion in 2022
- Fruit preparations exports hit €700 million in 2023
- Pet food exports reached €500 million in 2022
- Soft drinks exports volume was 300 million liters valued at €250 million in 2023
- Frozen foods exports totaled €2.8 billion in 2022
- Pasta exports were 50,000 tons worth €150 million in 2023
- Canned fish exports reached €400 million in 2022
- Organic products exports grew 15% to €450 million in 2023
- Baby food exports totaled €200 million in 2022
- Snacks exports hit €600 million in 2023
- Sauces and condiments exports were €350 million in 2022
- Waffles and biscuits exports reached €900 million in 2023
- Prepared meals exports totaled €1.5 billion in 2022
Exports Interpretation
Belgium cleverly disguises itself as a small country while running a culinary empire, making it clear that the world's pantry relies heavily on its genius for meat, chocolate, and, of course, perfect fries.
Imports
- In 2022, food imports to Belgium amounted to €20.5 billion, with tropical fruits at 12%
- Coffee imports reached 85,000 tons valued at €1.2 billion in 2023
- Soybean imports for food processing totaled 2.5 million tons in 2022
- Seafood imports hit 550,000 tons worth €2.8 billion in 2023
- Cocoa beans imports were 250,000 tons for chocolate industry in 2022
- Citrus fruits imports totaled 400,000 tons in 2023
- Sugar imports reached 300,000 tons valued at €250 million in 2022
- Palm oil imports for food use were 450,000 tons in 2023
- Meat imports volume was 250,000 tons in 2022
- Nuts imports hit 80,000 tons worth €600 million in 2023
- Rice imports totaled 120,000 tons in 2022
- Spices imports reached 15,000 tons valued at €150 million in 2023
- Tea imports were 12,000 tons in 2022
- Bananas imports volume 350,000 tons annually in 2023
- Olive oil imports hit 25,000 tons worth €300 million in 2022
- Poultry imports totaled 100,000 tons in 2023
- Pasta ingredients like durum wheat imports 200,000 tons in 2022
- Frozen fruits imports reached 150,000 tons in 2023
- Wine imports volume 50 million liters valued at €400 million in 2022
- Chocolate ingredients like milk powder imports 100,000 tons in 2023
Imports Interpretation
Belgium’s national diet appears to be built less on local waffles and more on a colossal, globe-spanning grocery list that fuels its coffee breaks, chocolate cravings, and a surprisingly tropical fruit bowl.
Market
- Food industry turnover reached €68 billion in 2022
- Chocolate market size was €5.2 billion in 2023 retail sales
- Beer market revenue hit €3.8 billion in 2022
- Dairy products generated €12.4 billion turnover in 2023
- Processed meat market valued at €8.5 billion in 2022
- Bakery sector turnover was €9.1 billion in 2023
- Non-alcoholic beverages market reached €4.2 billion in 2022
- Confectionery market excluding chocolate €2.1 billion in 2023
- Frozen foods market size €6.3 billion in 2022 retail
- Vegetable processing turnover €7.8 billion in 2023
- Potato products market valued at €4.5 billion in 2022
- Organic food market grew to €1.2 billion in 2023
- Pet food market revenue €2.4 billion in 2022
- Convenience meals market hit €5.9 billion in 2023
- Snacks market valued at €3.2 billion in 2022
- Sauces and condiments €2.8 billion turnover in 2023
- Oils and fats market €4.1 billion in 2022
- Baby food market size €850 million in 2023
- Per capita food expenditure was €3,250 annually in 2022
- E-commerce food sales grew 18% to €2.5 billion in 2023
- Food inflation rate was 9.2% in 2022
- Private label food share reached 28% of market in 2023
Market Interpretation
Belgium's food industry is a masterclass in hedonistic pragmatism, where chocolate rivers and beer fountains flow alongside a serious business of €68 billion, proving that a nation's soul can be as meticulously portioned as its famous fries and as robustly profitable as its world-class dairy.
Production
- In 2022, Belgium's food and beverage manufacturing sector produced 4.2 million tons of processed meat products
- Belgium's annual chocolate production reached 243,000 tons in 2023, primarily from major producers like Barry Callebaut
- Dairy production in Belgium totaled 3.8 billion liters of milk in 2022, with 45% processed into cheese
- Beer production volume in Belgium was 1.6 million hectoliters in 2023, led by breweries in Flanders
- Vegetable oil production hit 450,000 tons in 2022, with rapeseed oil comprising 60%
- Bakery products output reached 1.2 million tons annually in 2023, including bread and pastries
- Poultry meat production was 520,000 tons in 2022, with 70% from broiler chickens
- Sugar beet processing yielded 1.1 million tons of sugar in 2023 campaign
- Fruit juice production totaled 250,000 hectoliters in 2022
- Frozen food production increased to 800,000 tons in 2023, driven by ready meals
- Canned vegetables output was 350,000 tons in 2022
- Soft drinks manufacturing produced 1.4 billion liters in 2023
- Pasta production reached 180,000 tons in 2022
- Confectionery excluding chocolate output was 120,000 tons in 2023
- Fish processing volume hit 150,000 tons in 2022
- Organic food production grew to 5% of total output in 2023, equating to 250,000 tons
- Margarine and spreads production was 95,000 tons in 2022
- Potato processing yielded 2.5 million tons of products like fries in 2023
- Wine production totaled 18 million liters in 2022 vintage
- Baby food manufacturing output was 45,000 tons in 2023
- Snack food production reached 300,000 tons in 2022
- Ice cream production volume was 120 million liters in summer 2023
- Soups and sauces output totaled 200,000 tons in 2022
- Pet food production hit 250,000 tons in 2023
- Ready-to-eat meals production grew to 450,000 tons in 2022
- Herbal tea production was 15,000 tons in 2023
- Mustard production totaled 12,000 tons annually in Flanders
- Waffle production reached 100 million units in 2022
- Speculoos cookie output was 50,000 tons in 2023
Production Interpretation
Belgium’s industrial output reads like a meticulously curated, if slightly gluttonous, grocery list for a nation that has wisely decided to cover all culinary bases, from the essential (4.2 million tons of processed meat) and the sublime (243,000 tons of chocolate) to the structurally critical (2.5 million tons of potato products, because the fries must flow).
Sources & References
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