In a remarkable feat, Flanders witnessed a record trade surplus in its agricultural sector, reaching 7.5 billion euros in 2022, compared to imports worth 46.4 billion euros. This significant

increase in value can be attributed to robust inflation, as indicated by a recent report based on data from the National Bank of Belgium and Eurostat.

Flanders boasts an open economy with a focus on export-oriented agri-food industry. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries highlights that the positive trade balance of the previous year underscores the creation of added value by Flemish agribusiness. Notably, with a trade surplus of 7.5 billion euros, Flanders ranks fourth in the EU in terms of agricultural trade surplus, as emphasized by Agriculture Minister Jo Brouns. "The agri-food sector plays a crucial role in contributing to the prosperity of our export-oriented economy," stated the minister.

Dairy and fertilisers took center stage in the total agricultural trade for 2022, emerging as the most significant products both in terms of imports and exports. Additionally, fertilisers surprisingly claimed the second spot in exports, closely followed by fresh meat and cocoa products.

Among the trading partners, France stood out as the main market for Flemish agricultural products, accounting for a substantial 10.4 billion euros, followed by the Netherlands (9.6 billion) and Germany (7.9 billion). Notably, the United States and China emerged as the two most important non-European customers.

Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, significantly contributes to the nation's agricultural trade, accounting for 86.5% of Belgium's total imports of agricultural products and 84.5% of its exports.

This record-breaking trade surplus showcases the resilience and prowess of Flemish agriculture, even amidst economic fluctuations and inflationary pressures.