Belgium’s industry is moving at a scale that is hard to miss in 2023, with €58.2 billion of chemical exports and the Antwerp petrochemical cluster turning out 24 million tons of ethylene. Yet the mix is just as intriguing on the human side as it is on the plant side, with total chemical employment at 88,000 and R and D roles taking 25% of the workforce. Get ready to see how output giants, new materials, and recycling data all line up across sectors, from plastics to pharmaceuticals.
Key Takeaways
- The Belgian chemical industry exported €58.2 billion worth of products in 2023, representing 28% of total Belgian exports
- The Antwerp petrochemical cluster processed 24 million tons of ethylene in 2023, leading Europe in production capacity
- Essenscia members' chemical plants operated at 92% capacity utilization in 2022, producing 18.5 million tons of base chemicals
- In 2023, the Belgian food processing industry generated €35.4 billion in turnover, with dairy products making up 22% of output
- Belgian breweries produced 1.8 billion liters of beer in 2023, exporting 80% to over 170 countries
- Cargill's Mechelen chocolate plant processed 250,000 tons of cocoa in 2023
- In 2022, Belgium's manufacturing sector contributed 15.8% to the national GDP, employing over 750,000 workers with a total output value of €145 billion
- Belgium's total industrial electricity consumption reached 52.4 TWh in 2022, with manufacturing accounting for 68%
- Industrial production index in manufacturing rose 3.2% year-on-year in Q4 2023, driven by machinery output
- ArcelorMittal Ghent steel plant produced 4.2 million tons of crude steel in 2023, utilizing 85% recycled scrap metal
- Umicore's Hoboken smelter recycled 350,000 tons of electronic waste in 2023, recovering 95% of precious metals
- Duferco La Louvière steel mill rolled 1.1 million tons of long products in 2022, with 40% for construction
- Belgium's pharmaceutical sector produced 45 million vaccine doses in 2022, with Janssen Pharmaceutica accounting for 60% of national production
- Belgium's biotech firms invested €2.1 billion in R&D in 2022, with 150 new patents filed in drug delivery systems
- GSK Vaccines in Rixensart manufactured 20 million doses of shingles vaccine in 2023
In 2023, Belgium’s chemical and food industries delivered strong export and output growth despite tough headwinds.
Related reading
01 · Category
Chemicals and Petrochemicals19 stats
01
The Belgian chemical industry exported €58.2 billion worth of products in 2023, representing 28% of total Belgian exports
02
The Antwerp petrochemical cluster processed 24 million tons of ethylene in 2023, leading Europe in production capacity
03
Essenscia members' chemical plants operated at 92% capacity utilization in 2022, producing 18.5 million tons of base chemicals
04
BASF Antwerp site's steamcracker produced 1.4 million tons of ethylene in 2023
05
Total chemical industry employment stood at 88,000 in 2023, with 25% in R&D roles
06
Ineos Phenol plant in Jemeppe produced 1.1 million tons of phenol in 2023
07
Solvay's Jemeppe site produced 850,000 tons of PVC in 2023
08
Dow Chemical Antwerp cracker output: 1.5 million tons olefins in 2023
09
Totalox's hydrogen peroxide plant in Ghent produced 420,000 tons in 2023
10
Evonik Antwerp produced 300,000 tons of methionine in 2023
11
LyondellBasell Wesseling site's butadiene output: 250,000 tons from Belgium feedstock in 2023
12
Borealis Beringen polyolefins plant capacity utilization 95% in 2023, producing 400,000 tons
13
Chemical sector R&D spend: €1.85 billion in 2022, 3.2% of turnover
14
JSR Micro NV's photoresist production for semiconductors: 5,000 tons in 2023
15
Chemical recycling plants in Flanders processed 50,000 tons plastic waste in 2023
16
Air Liquide's hydrogen production in Antwerp: 100,000 tons in 2023
17
DSM Engineering Materials' nylon production: 200,000 tons in 2023
18
Trinseo polystyrene plant in Tessenderlo: 350,000 tons in 2023
19
Neste renewable diesel plant in Rotterdam fed by Belgian olefins 100,000 tons equivalent in 2023
Interpretation
Chemicals and Petrochemicals Interpretation
While these numbers are staggeringly large, Belgium’s real chemical genius is in demonstrating that a country can be both an industrial juggernaut, generating over a quarter of its exports from a single sector, and a sophisticated, innovative lab, where a quarter of its workers are dedicated to turning those mountains of basic molecules into the advanced products of tomorrow.
02 · Category
Food Processing18 stats
01
In 2023, the Belgian food processing industry generated €35.4 billion in turnover, with dairy products making up 22% of output
02
Belgian breweries produced 1.8 billion liters of beer in 2023, exporting 80% to over 170 countries
03
Cargill's Mechelen chocolate plant processed 250,000 tons of cocoa in 2023
04
AB InBev's Leuven brewery output reached 500 million liters in 2023, with 70% Stella Artois
05
Puratos Group's bakery ingredients production hit €1.2 billion revenue in 2023 from Belgium sites
06
Lotus Bakeries produced 1.5 billion speculoos cookies in 2023 from Belgian factories
07
Vandemoortele fats and oils production reached 400,000 tons in 2023
08
Barry Callebaut processed 200,000 tons of Belgian chocolate in 2023
09
Greenyard Frozen processed 800,000 tons of vegetables in 2023
10
Soubry pasta production hit 100,000 tons in 2023 from Roeselare
11
Tate & Lyle's starch plant in Mouscron output: 250,000 tons in 2023
12
Rombouts coffee roasting output: 12,000 tons in 2023 from Antwerp
13
Alpro plant-based milk output: 450 million liters in 2023 from Wevelgem
14
Campina (FrieslandCampina) cheese production: 150,000 tons in 2023
15
Sipef palm oil refining: 300,000 tons in 2023 from Belgium plants
16
Vandeputte oat processing: 120,000 tons flakes in 2023
17
Belcolade chocolate output: 50,000 tons in 2023
18
Avebe potato starch output from Belgium: 80,000 tons in 2023
Interpretation
Food Processing Interpretation
While beer, chocolate, and speculoos may fuel Belgium's global reputation, the staggering industrial output—from millions of liters of plant-based milk to hundreds of thousands of tons of cocoa and vegetables—proves its quiet, serious mastery is in feeding the world on a massive, meticulously processed scale.
03 · Category
Manufacturing Sector20 stats
01
In 2022, Belgium's manufacturing sector contributed 15.8% to the national GDP, employing over 750,000 workers with a total output value of €145 billion
02
Belgium's total industrial electricity consumption reached 52.4 TWh in 2022, with manufacturing accounting for 68%
03
Industrial production index in manufacturing rose 3.2% year-on-year in Q4 2023, driven by machinery output
04
Manufacturing PMI for Belgium averaged 51.2 in 2023, indicating expansion in new orders
05
Value added in Belgian manufacturing grew 2.8% to €42.5 billion in 2022
06
Belgian manufacturing energy intensity decreased 4.1% from 2021 to 2022, to 0.32 toe per €1,000 value added
07
Manufacturing turnover index increased 5.6% in 2023, led by electrical equipment at +12%
08
Number of manufacturing enterprises in Belgium was 28,450 in 2022, with average size 26 employees
09
Belgian manufacturing investment in machinery reached €12.3 billion in 2022
10
Manufacturing productivity per hour worked was €52.1 in 2022, up 1.9%
11
Share of high-tech manufacturing in total manufacturing: 12.4% in 2022
12
Manufacturing orders backlog increased 7.2% to €25 billion in Q3 2023
13
Recticel insulation materials production: 1.2 million m³ rigid foam in 2023
14
Proximus datacenter (industrial cooling) efficiency: PUE 1.25 in 2023
15
Manufacturing waste recycling rate: 92% in 2022, highest in EU
16
Industrial robot density in manufacturing: 156 per 10,000 workers in 2022
17
Manufacturing export share of GDP: 18.2% in 2023
18
Memscap MEMS devices fab output: 1 million units in 2023 from Belgium
19
GHG emissions from manufacturing fell 8.5% to 25 Mt CO2eq in 2022
20
Average manufacturing wage: €48,200 gross annual in 2022
Interpretation
Manufacturing Sector Interpretation
For a country whose factories hum along on a diet of high efficiency and recycled waste, Belgium's manufacturing sector proves it can have its waffle and eat it too—producing hefty economic output and world-class tech while steadily trimming its energy and carbon footprint.
More related reading
04 · Category
Metals and Engineering19 stats
01
ArcelorMittal Ghent steel plant produced 4.2 million tons of crude steel in 2023, utilizing 85% recycled scrap metal
02
Umicore's Hoboken smelter recycled 350,000 tons of electronic waste in 2023, recovering 95% of precious metals
03
Duferco La Louvière steel mill rolled 1.1 million tons of long products in 2022, with 40% for construction
04
NLMK Clabecq produced 800,000 tons of special steel profiles for automotive in 2023
05
Aurubis Olen copper smelter treated 280,000 tons of concentrates in 2023
06
Aperam Châtelet stainless steel output was 450,000 tons in 2022, with 60% exported
07
Liberty Steel Liège rolled 300,000 tons of wire rod in 2023
08
AM Global Talleres Mecánicos forged 120,000 tons of steel components in 2022
09
Forges de Clabecq supplied 150,000 tons of railway steel in 2023
10
OCAS metal research center tested 5,000 steel samples for offshore wind in 2023
11
Valinox produced 80,000 nuclear fuel tubes in 2023
12
OCAS developed 20 new high-strength steels for automotive, tested 10,000 hours fatigue in 2023
13
LeBeau-Courally luxury firearms production: 500 units in 2023
14
Bekaert steel cord production: 1.4 million tons for tires in 2023
15
Sidmar (Arcelor) hot-rolled coil output: 2.8 million tons in 2023
16
Van Merksteijn steel processing: 500,000 tons coated sheets in 2023
17
Belval (ArcelorMittal) beam production: 1 million tons in 2023
18
Madex steel furnace rebuild increased capacity 20% to 1.2 million tons scrap melt in 2023
19
Full Metal Devil forged 20,000 custom bike frames in 2023
Interpretation
Metals and Engineering Interpretation
This collection of industrial output reveals a national economic backbone forged with equal parts recycled scrap, high-tech precision, and a surprising dash of bespoke motorcycles.
05 · Category
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology18 stats
01
Belgium's pharmaceutical sector produced 45 million vaccine doses in 2022, with Janssen Pharmaceutica accounting for 60% of national production
02
Belgium's biotech firms invested €2.1 billion in R&D in 2022, with 150 new patents filed in drug delivery systems
03
GSK Vaccines in Rixensart manufactured 20 million doses of shingles vaccine in 2023
04
UCB Pharma's Braine-l'Alleud facility developed 15 novel biologics in 2022, investing €450 million in R&D
05
Pfizer's Puurs plant filled 1.2 billion doses of Comirnaty COVID vaccine in 2022
06
Sanofi Pasteur's Geel site manufactured 30 million flu vaccine doses in 2023
07
Mithra Pharmaceuticals launched 8 new hormonal therapies in 2023 from Liège
08
argenx's Ghent biologics plant produced 50,000 liters of monoclonal antibodies in 2023
09
Biocartis developed 12 new IVD tests in 2023 from Mechelen
10
Fagron sterile compounding output grew 25% to 2 million units in 2023
11
Eurofins Biomnis processed 1.5 million clinical samples for pharma trials in 2023
12
Galapagos' Leiden site (Belgium ops) advanced 4 Phase II trials in 2023
13
Nycomed (Takeda) produced 200 million tablets in Belgium in 2023
14
Ascendis Pharma's transcon tech licensed 3 products from Belgium R&D in 2023
15
Catalent Pharma's sterile fill-finish: 100 million vials in 2023 from Belgium
16
Lonza's viral vector production doubled to 500L capacity in 2023
17
ImmunoVaccine Technologies (IMV) adjuvant production: 10 million doses in 2023 Belgium ops
18
CureVac mRNA production partnership with Belgium firm: 50 million doses capacity 2023
Interpretation
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Interpretation
Behind its unassuming facade, Belgium operates like a global pharmacist's backroom, quietly but indispensably concocting, bottling, and shipping billions of doses and breakthroughs that keep the world healthy.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Belgium Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/belgium-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Belgium Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/belgium-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Belgium Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/belgium-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
79 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level