Leguminous vegetables market in Belgium

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh leguminous vegetables in Belgium showed considerable variation from 2018 to 2023. Starting at 361.7 thousand tonnes in 2018, it reached a high of 417.1 thousand tonnes in 2021 before dropping sharply to 307.2 thousand tonnes in 2022 and then rebounding to 366.5 thousand tonnes in 2023.

The strong market growth in 2021, when volume increased by 19%, was supported by a broader positive trend in the Belgian fruit and vegetable sector, which reported a 6.4% rise in turnover that year. This indicated robust consumer demand for fresh local produce, lifting consumption across categories including leguminous vegetables.

By 2022, consumer priorities had evolved, with surveys showing price as the top purchase criterion for most buyers and a continued preference for fresh, local, and seasonal items. While these factors defined the market environment, the total volume contracted that year, pointing to other adjustments in supply or demand.

Production leguminous vegetables in Belgium

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium held the 17th position globally in the production of leguminous vegetables.

Top producers of leguminous vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of leguminous vegetables, 2017-2020

In 2020, Belgium produced 143.6 K t of leguminous vegetables, marking a significant 22.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 23.5%, which translates to an annualized decline of 8.5%. The highest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 14.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports leguminous vegetables from Belgium

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Import levels varied significantly, with a 4.2-fold difference between the peak in 2017 and the low in 2020. In 2020, Belgium's cross-border shipments of leguminous vegetables totaled 6.0 K t, showing a sharp decline of 60.3% from 2019. The largest drop was in 2018, at 73.5%, while the biggest increase was in 2019, at 126.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands and France were the primary buyers of leguminous vegetables from Belgium, together accounting for 91.9% of total exports in volume. Other destinations each held relatively small shares.

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 exports of leguminous vegetables amounted to 12.6 M $ US, reflecting a 12.1% year-on-year decrease. From 2017 to 2020, exports declined by 24.1%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -8.8%. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 21.3%, while the highest increase was in 2019, at 9.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands (45.2% of exports by value), France (17.0%), and Sweden (15.7%) led as the top buyers of leguminous vegetables from Belgium. Their combined share reached 77.9% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports leguminous vegetables to Belgium

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, Belgium's imports of leguminous vegetables increased. In 2020, imports totaled 212.3 K t, up by 6.8% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 2.3%, equivalent to an annualized rate of -0.8%. The lowest value was in 2019, at 198.8 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 4.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, France was the dominant supplier of leguminous vegetables to Belgium, accounting for 73.2% of total imports in volume, with other countries sharing the remainder.

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 imported 105.4 M $ US of leguminous vegetables, an increase of 12.8% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 9.3%, with a CAGR of 3.0%. The lowest value was in 2019, at 93.5 M $ US, which also experienced the largest decline of 5.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands and France together accounted for 88.5% of total imports by value, while the rest was distributed thinly across other markets.

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

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