Bottling and packaging equipment market in Belgium

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the Belgian bottling and packaging equipment market experienced a shift toward greater domestic production capabilities, influenced by growing demand for semi-automatic and manual filling equipment in key sectors like food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics across Western Europe. This demand prompted plant expansions by industry players, including Schott Kaisha in early 2019, and drove investments by pharmaceutical companies to scale up packaging and filling machinery production. During this period, imports declined steadily from 239.7 million USD in 2018 to 193.3 million USD in 2021, while exports recovered from a dip in 2020 to reach 174.8 million USD in 2021, reflecting strengthened local manufacturing and a reorientation toward external markets.

The period from 2022 to 2024 was marked by strong export growth, rising from 156.4 million USD in 2022 to 248.8 million USD in 2024, which outpaced domestic production increases. Production volumes grew to 158.2 million USD in 2023, supported by global demand for versatile packaging machines and innovations in sustainable packaging, such as Berry Global's launch of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Further investments in advanced washing and extrusion lines aimed at higher recycled content, along with the introduction of lighter, customizable packaging components by companies like Aptar and Amcor, enhanced the competitiveness of Belgian equipment abroad. This export surge, coupled with greater availability of second-hand machinery on the local market, led to a contraction in the domestic market size from 134.2 million USD in 2022 to 66.1 million USD in 2024, as output was increasingly directed to international customers.

Production bottling and packaging equipment in Belgium

According to Faostat, there is no production of bottling and packaging equipment in Belgium.

Exports bottling and packaging equipment from Belgium

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Belgium exported 2,485 tonnes of bottling and packaging equipment, marking a significant 38.8% decline compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 41.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -16.4%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, when exports rose by 10.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium's exports of bottling and packaging equipment were distributed across a diverse range of partner countries. The top three destinations—France (14.5% of exports), the United States (12.2%), and Germany (11.7%)—collectively accounted for just 38.4% of total export volumes.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Belgium's cross-border shipments of bottling and packaging equipment were valued at 146.5 million US dollars, representing an 8.3% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export values declined by 21.8%, equating to an annualized rate of -7.9%. The largest drop was recorded in 2018 at 15.7%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a modest 1.2% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, Belgium traded bottling and packaging equipment with numerous countries. Even the largest export markets—the United States, Germany, and France—together represented only 39.4% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020

Imports bottling and packaging equipment to Belgium

Imports in kind, t

Belgium's imports of bottling and packaging equipment increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 7,240 tonnes—a moderate 3.2% rise from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 12.3%, with a CAGR of -4.3%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 6,856 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 16.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands (22.6% of import volume), Sweden (20.0%), and Germany (18.3%) formed the core group of suppliers for Belgium's bottling and packaging equipment imports, together accounting for 61.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Belgium's imports of foreign bottling and packaging equipment reached 206.2 million US dollars, up 6.1% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values decreased by 7.0%, with a CAGR of -2.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 194.5 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2018 at 239.7 million US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 18.9%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 8.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Germany (34.2% of import value), the Netherlands (19.5%), and Italy (14.1%) accounted for the largest share of Belgium's bottling and packaging equipment imports by value, together comprising 67.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020