Statistics outlining the level of trade between Belgium and France, reported this week by Végétable, illustrate that activit between the nations remains high.
In volume terms, the potato is the principal product exchanged between Belgium and France, with the former importing some 707,000 tonnes from France in 2009 and exporting around 555,000 tonnes.
However, in value terms, Belgian potato exports to France rose to €303m, while its imports from the country stand at only €93m. This, according to French publication Végétable, is because the raw production tends to be done in France, while the value added tends to be done in Belgium.
As for fresh fruits, Belgium exported 406,000 tonnes to France in 2009, importing a mere 110,000 tonnes in return. The difference in the two figures is due to the fact that around 288,000 tonnes of fruit is imported from the Southern Hemisphere via Belgian ports, the main one being Antwerp, Végétable reports.
Of its own production, Belgium exported 40,000 tonnes of apples and 25,000 tonnes of pears to France, which exported the other way some 35,000 tonnes of apples and 3,370 tonnes of pears, as well as 12,500 tonnes of peaches.
Belgium also exported 7,600 tonnes of strawberries, whereas France sent a mere 420 tonnes.
As for vegetables, carrots are the main product exchanged between the two countries. Around 73,000 tonnes were sent from Belgium to France in 2009, with 38,000 tonnes passing in the opposite direction.
Sales of Belgian tomatoes have increased by 10 per cent to some 51,500 tonnes, while French tomato sales have fallen to 20,000 tonnes, according to the French publication.
The leek also stands as an important item, with 27,900 tonnes exported by Belgium, while only 277 tonnes were exported by France in 2009.
