Belgium
MACROECONOMIC AND TRADE DATA:
- GDP
€409.7 bn
- Per capita GDP
€36,547
- Debt/GDP
106%
- Growth rate
0.7 -1.1%
- Gross fixed capital formation
19%
- Balance of trade
€100 m
- Trade ranking
12th
- Country risk
A2
- Business-friendly nation
42nd
Main
clients
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
Main
suppliers
- Netherlands
- Germany
- France
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT: MAIN TRADE FLOWS
IMPORTS
BY EXPERTISE HUB:
- Earthmoving and demolition: 9%
- Lifting, handling and transportation: 44%
- Roads, minerals and foundations: 37%
- Buildings and concrete sector: 10%
MAIN IMPORTS,
MAIN SUPPLIER COUNTRIES:
Find out in the INTERMAT Observatory
EXPORTS
BY EXPERTISE HUB:
- Earthmoving and demolition: 6%
- Lifting, handling and transportation: 56%
- Roads, minerals and foundations: 33%
- Buildings and concrete sector: 6%
MAIN EXPORTS,
MAIN COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION:
Find out in the INTERMAT Observatory
Top 3
high-potential sectors
Sectors:
DEVELOPMENT LEVERS FOR SECTOR
- Road works in Wallonia (€565 m): extension of road network; modernisation of road infrastructure; renovation of motorway network (low level of innovation); road surfacing to be replaced on 64% of network; improvement of waysides, cycle tracks and pavements
- Covering of the Antwerp Ring (€9 bn)
- Modernisation of the Brussels Ring (€2 bn): modernisation of northern part of the Ring between Grand-Bigard and Woluwe-Saint-Etienne junctions; creation of a 4th lane between Grand-Bigard and Woluwe-Saint-Etienne junctions; creation of 3 new tram lines; implementation of 40 km of infrastructure dedicated to two-wheelers (cycle lanes and bridges).
MASTER PLANS
Several investment programmes €11.5 bn 2023-2030
LEVEL OF INNOVATION & OTHER MAJOR ISSUES
- Implementation of quality plans: selfinspection system for co-contractors (checks and inspections previously carried out by the administration are transferred to them)
- Integration of a “soft development” approach (bikes, pedestrians) in the construction of roads and identification of regional roads with high cycling potential
- Limitation of impact of pollution on local population
- Renovation of Perex centre (objective: develop in an efficient and modern way a concept of smart networks capable of controlling motorway and waterway infrastructure in real time, with priority on improving safety and mobility, as well as information to users.)
DEVELOPMENT LEVERS FOR SECTOR
- Extension of Brussels-Charleroi runway: it will measure 3,200 m in length.
MASTER PLANS
No budget announced. Timescale 2020
LEVEL OF INNOVATION & OTHER MAJOR ISSUES
- New air routes to open.
- Long-haul flights accommodated.
DEVELOPMENT LEVERS FOR SECTOR
- Seine-Scheldt project (€1.5 bn): development of a 71 km inland navigation route between the French border and the Ghent-Terneuzen canal; development of a regional handling centre at Alost; modification of Ghent-Terneuzen canal
- Strategic Port Infrastructure Project (SHIP) in the port of Zeebrugge (€675 m): renovation of locks and construction of a new lock in Zeebrugge port.
- Project for a ro-ro handling terminal intended for the transportation of vehicles from Antwerp.
MASTER PLANS
Several investment projects €2.2 bn 2022-2030
LEVEL OF INNOVATION & OTHER MAJOR ISSUES
- Transition from road transportation to waterways: less congestion on roads, increased safety and environmentally friendly.
- Improvement of port accessibility from the sea.
- Use of specific machinas, in particular for work on locks.
- Easier inland navigation for large barges between the Seine and Scheldt basins.
- Increase in navigation capacity in Upper Scheldt and on the Ghent-Ostend canal, and rehabilitation of the Roulers-Lys and Bossuit-Courtrai canals.
Other sectors:
- Mines and
quarries - Railways
- Environment
- Energy
- Engineering
structures
- Logisitic
- Nuclear
- Buildings
Top 5
requirements for construction equipment and materials
In the full report, find data on the main imports and exports of building machinery for each country in the four hubs of expertise at INTERMAT:
- EARTHMOVING & DEMOLITION
- LIFTING, HANDLING & TRANSPORTATION
- ROADS, MINERALS & FOUNDATIONS
- BUILDINGS & CONCRETE SECTOR
€3.7 bn
WASTE-TO-CHEMICALS PLANT
Construction of a “waste to chemicals’ plant in Antwerp Port (Delwaidedok)
Following the concession award, 3 years will be required to develop the project on site and obtain the necessary permits. The construction of the installation will then commence. It should be operational by 2020. This project will offer high added value for all stakeholders; the port, the chemicals industry, Antwerp, Flanders and the environment in general.
- Financing: private
- Location: Antwerp
- Contracting authority: ERS
- Investors: ERS – Saudi company
- Architect / design consultancy: VITO
- Timescale: project announced in the first half of 2014.Work to commence in 2018. End of project in second half.
€2 bn
MODERNISATION OF BRUSSELS RING
The first works phase will relate to the creation of a fourth lane between the Grand-Bigard junction (crossing the Brusssels-Ostend E40) and the Woluwe-Saint-Etienne junction (crossing with the Brussels-Liege E40). As the lack of alternatives to cars is a serious problem, tram lines will also be increased at the same time. Three new lines will be created which, according to the consultants’ estimations, will relieve the Ring of approximately 20,000 vehicles. According to the project presented by the Flemish minister of Mobiltiy, these future three lines will be: Brussels North – Willebroek; Brussels North- Evere – Brussels Airport; Jette – Heysel – Vilvoorde – Brussels Airport. In this new mobility plan for Brussels, a 70 million-euro budget will be allotted to the creation of more than 40 km of infrastructure for two-wheelers. To guarantee safe conditions along the 41 km of cycle paths, 10 bridges and 9 tunnels will be built to minimise crossings with car drivers. The Laerbeek Forest in Jette will also receive a large “ecoduct” crossing over the Ring, with substantial space for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Financing: public
- Location: Flemish Brabant
- Contracting authority: Sweco and Arcadis under the name “MoVeRo”
- Investors: Flemish government
- Architect / design consultancy: MoVeRo
- Prime contractor: MoVeRo
- Timescale: impact assessment completed at the end of 2016. Project still under discussion; it is a project of the Flemish Government but the Brussels Government has made several objections. Works to commence at end of 2019.
