The Benelux encompasses a population of over 25 million in an area slightly smaller than South Carolina. Nearly 25 percent of U.S. exports within the European Union go to the Benelux. Total exports from the U.S. to the Benelux was $59 billion in 2007 -- $10 billion more than U.S. exports to Germany, and $32 billion more than U.S. exports to France.

Why Belgium?

• With the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, Belgium is the gateway to Europe;
• Belgium is America's 12th-largest export market and has the 7th-largest market for foreign goods in the OECD;
• 70% of EU purchasing power is within a 400-mile radius of Brussels;
• All European markets can be served within 24 hours - once in the Benelux, goods may transit freely throughout the entire EU;
• Excellent infrastructure specifically geared towards re-export and transportation of goods, people and electronic data, resulting in a greater need and receptivity towards imports;
• Highly-qualified workforce: highly-educated, multilingual - English is commonly used as a business language;
• Ideal test market: small, diverse, and cosmopolitan with international infrastructure
• Brussels features Europe’s fastest air-cargo handling and distribution center, with a capacity of 514,000 tons;
• Besides the European Commission and NATO, many other international organizations call Belgium home. Some 2,000 international corporations, 1,300 of them Americans, already base their European affairs office and headquarters operations in Brussels;
• The port of Antwerp is the second-largest port in Europe connecting over 1,500 miles of waterways to all major industrial regions in Europe.

Do you require assistance in exporting to the Benelux? Contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Belgium/Luxembourg
or The Netherlands.