Brussels exports: four ways to position your company

The decline was particularly significant in sectors such as vehicles, while other categories, such as plastics, recorded spectacular growth (+106%). Although the slowdown in Belgian services was less pronounced, exporters face increased competition.

Geographically, Europe remained the leading destination for Brussels exports (87%). While some traditional markets such as Germany (-40%) and the United States (-45%) showed signs of decline, others such as France (+15%) and the United Kingdom (+23%) posted clear growth.

How can Brussels businesses not only adapt but also prosper, given these contrasting trends? Below are four ways of turning these challenges into opportunities.

1. Focus on nearby markets

Europe remains a strategic destination, particularly due to the ease of logistics. Markets such as France and the United Kingdom - even post-Brexit - offer stable opportunities within easy reach.
👉 Focusing on nearby markets also reduces timings and costs while aligning your strategy with climate concerns. Take advantage of hub.brussels' programmes, sales actions and international presence to strengthen your existing partnerships and explore new ones.

2. Diversify your outlets to reduce risk

Geopolitical tensions and the rise of protectionist policies underline the importance of diversifying your outlets to limit exposure to a small number of partners. While some traditional markets recorded significant falls, substantial increases to countries such as the Czech Republic (+252%), Poland (+54%) and Ireland (+60%) signalled opportunities in these regions.
👉 Explore emerging or less traditional regions to capture new demand, while using market analysis to understand their specific characteristics. For this, you can contact the members of the hub.brussels International Network, who are based all over the world.

3. Stand out in growth sectors

In terms of goods, Transport equipment and Chemicals remained the leaders in Brussels exports, while Plastics (pipes & tubes) grew strongly (+106% at the start of 2024).

At national level, Telecommunications, computer and information services accounted for a significant proportion of exports, with a value of €20 billion a year, or approximately 15% of total service exports.

👉 Do you offer this type of goods or services, but at a regional or national level? Consider exporting! Exporting gives you access to new markets, reduces your dependence on the domestic market and expands your sales opportunities. Are you developing environmentally friendly alternatives in these segments? There seems to be a niche available in these sectors, for example biosourced or recyclable plastics may attract the interest of partners demanding more sustainable solutions. Or, for digital products, systems that promote reduced energy consumption or efficient resource management. 

4. Export successfully with hub.brussels

At a time when international trade is experiencing major change, don't forget to seek advice. Whether you are just embarking on your international adventure or looking for sustained growth, our experts are at your side to:

• analyse markets and identify opportunities;
• connect you to an international network of partners;
• help you deal with administrative and regulatory procedures;
• help you integrate sustainability and innovation into your export strategy.

Do you want to go further?

For detailed insights, download the latest report presenting Brussels' foreign trade statistics for the first half of 2024. It contains a summary of the main developments, key figures and a detailed analysis by type of goods or service and by continent. New in this edition are the Top 50 service export destinations for Belgian entrepreneurs and a similar list for goods exported by Brussels companies.

Download the whole report here