List of companies of Belgium

Belgium is a sovereign state in Western Europe bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and the North Sea. It is a small, densely populated country which covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi) and has a population of about 11 million people. Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups: the Dutch-speaking, mostly Flemish community, which constitutes about 59% of the population, and the French-speaking, mostly Walloon population, which comprises 41% of all Belgians. Additionally, there is a small group of German-speakers who live in the East Cantons located around the High Fens area, and bordering Germany.

Location of Belgium

Belgium's strongly globalized economy[1] and its transport infrastructure are integrated with the rest of Europe. Its location at the heart of a highly industrialized region helped make it the world's 15th largest trading nation in 2007.[2][3] The economy is characterized by a highly productive work force, high GNP and high exports per capita.[4] Belgium's main imports are raw materials, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, and oil products. Its main exports are machinery and equipment, chemicals, finished diamonds, metals and metal products, and foodstuffs.[5]

For further information on the types of business entities in this country and their abbreviations, see "Business entities in Belgium".

Largest firms

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This list shows firms in the Fortune Global 500, which ranks firms by total revenues reported before 31 March 2017.[6] Only the top five firms (if available) are included as a sample.

Rank Image Name 2016 Revenues (USD $M) Employees Notes
206   Anheuser-Busch InBev $45,905 206,633 The world's largest brewer with about 28% of the global market. The conglomerate has been on the list for 12 years, peaking at 196 in 2010.

Notable firms

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This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.

Notable companies
Status: P=Private, S=State; A=Active, D=Defunct
Name Industry Sector Headquarters Founded Notes Status
   
Abelag Aviation Consumer services Airlines Zaventem 1964 Charter airline P A
Ablynx Health care Biotechnology Ghent[7] 2001 Biopharma P A
Ackermans & van Haaren Conglomerates - Antwerp 1876 Construction, real estate, financial services P A
AF Compressors Industrials Industrial Engineering Liege 1870 Compressors P A
AG Real Estate Financials Real estate holding and development Brussels 1824 Real estate P A
Ageas Financials Consumer finance Brussels 1990 Financing P A
Agfa-Gevaert Technology Computer services Mortsel 1867 Digital imaging and IT solutions P A
Agoria Industrials Business support services Brussels 1946 Trade association P A
AIM Productions Technology Computer services Hove 1994 IT P A
Alpro Consumer goods Food products Ghent[8] 1980 Soy products P A
Anheuser-Busch InBev Consumer goods Brewers Leuven 2008 Breweries, distributors; see also InBev brands P A
Antwerp Water Works Utilities Water Antwerp 1880 Water utility P A
Aquafin Utilities Water Antwerp 1990 Wastewater P A
ASL Airlines Belgium Industrials Delivery services Liège 1999 Cargo airline, part of ASL Airlines Ireland P A
Associated Weavers Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Ronse 1964 Textile P A
Aveve Consumer goods Farming and fishing Aalter 1890 Agriculture P A
Aviapartner Industrials Delivery services Brussels 1949 Ground handling P A
Barco Technology Computer hardware Kortrijk 1934 Display manufacturer P A
Base Industrials Business support services Brussels 1993 Communications and design P A
Beaulieu International Group Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Wielsbeke 1959 Textiles P A
Befimmo Financials Real estate holding and development Brussels 1995 Real estate P A
Bekaert Basic materials Specialty chemicals Kortrijk 1880 Metal transformations and coatings P A
Belgian Beer Café Consumer services Restaurants and bars Leuven 1998 Cafe/restaurant P A
Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries Financials Specialty finance Brussels 2001 Financial NGO P A
BDO Industrials Business support services Zaventem 1963 Auditors P A
Bpost Industrials Delivery services Brussels 2000 Postal services P A
Brussels Airlines Consumer services Airlines Brussels 2006 Flag carrier airline, part of Lufthansa (Germany) P A
Brussels Regional Investment Company Financials Specialty finance Brussels 1984 Financing P A
Cockerill Sambre Basic materials Iron and steel Seraing 1817 Partially Defunct in 1998 P A
Carmeuse Basic materials General mining Louvain-la-Neuve 1860 Lime and limestone mining P A
Cartamundi Consumer goods Toys Turnhout 1970 Games P A
Cavalier Chocolate Consumer goods Food products Eeklo 1996 Chocolatier P A
Claeys Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Zedelgem 1906 Farm equipment, defunct 1991 P D
Cofinimmo Financials Real estate services Brussels 1983 Real estate P A
Colruyt Group Consumer services Food retailers and wholesalers Halle 1925 Retail, supermarkets P A
Compagnie Maritime Belge Industrials Marine transportation Antwerp 1895 Shipping P A
Confiserie Roodthooft Consumer goods Food products Antwerp 1925 Confectioner P A
Copiepresse Consumer services Publishing Brussels 2000 Newspaper P A
Deceuninck Basic materials Commodity chemicals Hooglede 1937 PVC P A
Delhaize Group Consumer goods Food products Brussels 1867 Food P A
DEME Industrials Heavy construction Zwijndrecht 1991 Infrastructure P A
D'Ieteren Consumer services Specialized consumer services Brussels 1805 Automotive services P A
DOMO Group Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Ghent 1992 Textiles P A
Ecover Consumer goods Nondurable household products Malle 1979 Cleaning products P A
ETAP Lighting Consumer goods Building materials and fixtures Malle 1949 Lighting P A
Eurogentec Health care Biotechnology Seraing 1985 Biotech P A
EVS Broadcast Equipment Technology Telecommunications equipment Liège 1994 Broadcasting equipment P A
Ferranti Computer Systems Technology Computer hardware Antwerp 1976 Computers, previously a part of Ferranti (UK) P A
Fluxys Oil and gas Exploration and production Brussels 2001 Natural gas, subsidiary of Suez P A
Forrest Group Basic materials General mining Wavre 1922 Mining P A
Gimv Financials Equity investment instruments Brussels 1980[9] Investing P A
Godiva Chocolatier Consumer goods Food products Brussels 1926 Chocolatier P A
Group Joos Consumer services Publishing Turnhout 1935 Printing, document management P A
Groupe Bruxelles Lambert Industrials Diversified industrials Brussels 1902 Industrial holdings P A
Guylian Consumer goods Food products Sint-Niklaas 1960 Chocolatier P A
IMEC Technology Computer services Leuven 1984 Technology research center P A
Impéria Automobiles Consumer goods Automobiles Liège 1906 Automotive, revived in 2009 P D
Innogenetics Health care Biotechnology Ghent 1985 Diagnostics, IVD P A
Jan De Nul Industrials Building materials and fixtures Aalst 1938 Construction, maritime maintenance P A
Janssen Pharmaceutica Health care Pharmaceuticals Beerse 1953 Pharma, subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson P A
Jonckheere Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Roeselare 1881 Buses P A
Katoen Natie Industrials Delivery services Antwerp 1854 Logistics P A
KBC Bank Financials Banks Brussels 1985 Bank P A
Keytrade Bank Financials Investment services Brussels 1998 Investments P A
Kinepolis Consumer services Recreational services Ghent 1997 Movie theaters P A
Larian Studios Technology Software Ghent 1996 Game developer P A
Lhoist group Extraction Lime, dolime and mineral solutions Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve 1924 Raw materials P A
Libeco-Lagae Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Meulebeke 1997 Textiles P A
Louis Delhaize Group Consumer services Food retailers and wholesalers Charleroi 1875 Retail, supermarkets P A
Luciad NV Technology Computer services Leuven 1999 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) P A
Materialise NV Technology Computer services Leuven 1990 3D printing solutions P A
Metallo-Chimique Basic materials Nonferrous metals Beerse 1919 Mining P A
Mutoh Europe nv Consumer goods Consumer electronics Ostend 1990 Electronics P A
Namahn Industrials Business support services Brussels 1987 Design consulting P A
National Railway Company of Belgium Consumer services Rail transport Brussels 1926 Passenger rail S A
Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille (CNP) Industrials Diversified industrials Gerpinnes 1981 Industrial holding P A
Nyrstar Basic materials General mining Balen 2007 Mining P A
Option N.V. Technology Computer hardware Leuven 1986 Wireless technology P A
Proost Consumer services Publishing Turnhout 1913 Book publishing P A
Proximus Telecommunications Mobile telecommunications Brussels 1994 Mobile network, part of Proximus Group P A
Proximus Group Telecommunications Fixed line telecommunications Brussels 1930 State-owned telecommunications S A
Regional Investment Company of Wallonia Financials Investment services Liège 1979 Investments P A
Reynaers Aluminium Basic materials Aluminum Duffel 1965 Aluminium P A
RHJ International Financials Asset managers Brussels 1786 Financial services group P A
Ridley Bikes Consumer goods Recreational products Paal 1997 Bicycles P A
Saluc Consumer goods Recreational products Péruwelz 1923 Ball manufacturing P A
Septentrio Consumer goods Consumer electronics Leuven 2000 Electronics P A
Seyntex Consumer goods Clothing and accessories Oostrozebeke 1908 Textiles P A
Skytech Industrials Aerospace Brussels 1989 Helicopters P A
Sofina Financials Equity investment instruments Brussels 1898 Investing P A
Solvay S.A. Basic materials Specialty chemicals Brussels 1863 Industrial chemicals P A
Soudal Basic materials Specialty chemicals Turnhout 1966 Silicone P A
Sugar refinery of Tienen Consumer goods Food products Tienen 1836 Sugar P A
Telenet Telecommunications Fixed line telecommunications Mechelen 1996 Broadband cable P A
Teleroute Industrials Delivery services Brussels 1985 Freight P A
Thermote & Vanhalst Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Waregem 1969 Spare parts, accessories P A
Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium Consumer services Airlines Zaventem 2001 Charter airline P A
Tibotec Health care Pharmaceuticals Mechelen 1994 Pharma, subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (US) P A
TiGenix Health care Biotechnology Leuven 2000 Biomedical P A
Truvo Industrials Business support services Antwerp 1968 Local search, directories P A
TUIfly Belgium Consumer services Airlines Zaventem 2003 Airline P A
UCB Health care Pharmaceuticals Brussels 1928 Pharma P A
UMedia Consumer services Broadcasting and entertainment Brussels 2010 Film studio P A
Umicore Basic materials General mining Brussels 1989 Materials and mining P A
Unibind Industrials Containers and packaging Brussels 1939 Bookbinding P A
Union Minière du Haut Katanga Basic materials General mining Brussels 1906 Mining, defunct 1966 P D
Van Genechten Packaging Industrials Containers and packaging Turnhout 1833 Printing, packaging P A
Van Hool Industrials Commercial vehicles and trucks Koningshooikt 1947 Buses P A
Vanbreda International Financials Life insurance Antwerp 1937 Health insurance P A
Vanparys Consumer goods Food products Brussels 1889 Confectioner P A
Velleman Industrials Electronic equipment Gavere 1975 Electronics P A
Vinçotte Industrials Business support services Brussels 1873 Inspections P A
VLM Airlines Consumer services Airlines Antwerp 1992 Airline P A
Volvo Car Gent Consumer goods Automobiles Ghent 1965 Local subsidiary of Volvo (Sweden) P A
VPK Group Packaging - Oudegem 1936 - P A
Walloon SME finance and guarantee company Financials Specialty finance Liège 2002 Financing P A
Zetes Technology Technology hardware Brussels 1984 Identification technology P A

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Belgium ranked first in the KOF Globalization Index 2009 ETH Zürich (ed.). "KOF Index of Globalization". Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  2. ^ "Rank Order – Exports". CIA – The 2008 world factbook. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008. 15[th]: Belgium $322,200,000,000 (2007 est.)
  3. ^ "Rank Order – Imports". CIA – The 2008 world factbook. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008. 15[th]: Belgium $323,200,000,000 (2007 est.)
  4. ^ "Belgian economy". Belgium. Belgian Federal Public Service (ministry) of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009. Belgium is the world leader in terms of export per capita and can justifiably call itself the 'world's largest exporter'.
  5. ^ "Belgium". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 6 June 2023.
  6. ^ DeCarlo, Scott (20 July 2017). "The Fortune 2017 Global 500". Fortune.
  7. ^ "Llama-Based Biotechnology Draws New Interest to Ablynx". Bloomberg. 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  8. ^ "Alpro - About Alpro". www.alpro.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Gimv Investeringsmaatschappij Voor Vlaanderen NV, GIMV:PAR profile - FT.com". Markets.ft.com. 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
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