The 10 new markets winning over Brussels exporters

For both geographical and cultural reasons, Belgium’s neighbouring countries have traditionally been the main destinations for Brussels exports. Yet in a world marked by uncertainty and slowing economies, diversification is becoming increasingly important. Many Brussels-based companies have therefore started exploring new horizons.

Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have long been the preferred trading partners of Brussels businesses. However, while these four countries accounted for 69.4% of regional exports in 2021, their share had fallen to “just” 59.6% by 2025. So where have Brussels companies turned since the post-Covid recovery?

Morocco, Cyprus and Afghanistan: new fans of Brussels goods

Here are the ten most remarkable export growth stories recorded in 2025:

1. 1. Morocco: Exports increased by 969%, reaching €27.07 million. This growth was driven by food and beverage products (+2,566%), electrical machinery and equipment (+285%), and miscellaneous goods and products (+570%).
2. Cyprus: Exports increased by 659.6%, reaching €9.44 million. The strongest growth came from vegetable products (+136,547%), food and beverage products (+153%), and works of art, collectors’ items and antiques (a category that recorded exports in 2025 whereas exports were nil in 2021).
3. Afghanistan: Exports increased by 512.6%, reaching €8.23 million. Key contributors were food and beverage products (+3,026%), optical instruments and appliances, medical and surgical instruments, watches and clocks (+1,858%), and electrical machinery and equipment (+436%).
4. Czech Republic: Exports increased by 253.1%, reaching €148.89 million. The strongest-performing sectors were plastics and rubber (+403%), textiles and textile articles (+964%), and food and beverage products (+250%).
5. Switzerland: Exports increased by 168.6%, reaching €547.1 million. Growth was fuelled by precious stones, precious metals and jewellery (+130%), works of art, collectors’ items and antiques (+72%), and food and beverage products (+264%).
6. Egypt: Exports increased by 143.9%, reaching €4.17 million. This increase was mainly driven by food and beverage products (+40%), electrical machinery and equipment (+225%), and optical instruments and appliances, medical and surgical instruments, watches and clocks (+12,828%).
7. Denmark: Exports increased by 133%, reaching €14.24 million. The main export categories were electrical machinery and equipment (despite a 30% decline), food and beverage products (+209%), and plastics and rubber (+42%).
8. Bulgaria: Imports of Brussels goods increased by 78.5%, reaching €14.24 million. The growth was mainly linked to electrical machinery and equipment (+36%), food and beverage products (+232%), and plastics and rubber (+32%).
9. Slovakia: Exports increased by 66.8%, reaching €11.44 million. Food and beverage products (+1,457%), plastics and rubber (+674%), and live animals and animal products (+1,219%) were the main growth drivers.
10. Spain: Exports increased by 52.5%, reaching €183.47 million. The strongest-performing categories were electrical machinery and equipment (+29%), food and beverage products (+153%), and plastics and rubber (+181%).

It should be noted that the two most exported categories — chemical and pharmaceutical products and transport equipment — were deliberately excluded from this analysis, as they are dominated by a small number of very large companies and are therefore not representative of the broader Brussels economy.

Most of these markets (with the exception of Egypt and Afghanistan) also recorded growth at the Belgian export level, although generally at a less spectacular pace.

What about services?

Services play a key role in the Brussels-Capital Region’s international trade. Belgian data also show growth in service exports to seven of these destinations between 2021 and 2024 (the latest year available).

1. Bulgaria: +31.4%, reaching €356 million.
2. Cyprus: +71.3%, reaching €358 million.
3. Spain: +28.8%, reaching €2.563 billion.
4. Slovakia: +15.7%, reaching €383 million.
5. Czech Republic: +76.9%, reaching €1.079 billion.
6. Denmark: +43.7%, reaching €1.663 billion.
7. Switzerland: +26.8%, reaching €10.298 billion.

Conversely:

1. Egypt: -47.1%, down to €108 million.
2. Morocco: -2.1%, down to €93 million.

No data are available for Afghanistan.

Want to learn more?

Visit our open data platform analytics.brussels, particularly the publication series “Brussels and the World”. There you will find detailed analyses and figures to support your internationalisation strategy.

And keep an eye on our upcoming international activities: some may involve one of these fast-growing markets, including Morocco, which will be at the heart of a Princely Economic Mission in 2027.