Statistics
Annual Report: No. 14 Belgium- Scoring with petrochemicals
July 6th, 2006
Houston-Galveston’s fast-growing trade with Belgium is outpacing overall U.S. trade with the European nation.
Diamonds may be the most valuable commodity flowing from Belgium to the United States, but petrochemicals sparkle in trade between the European country and Houston.
Buoyed by an uptick in Houston exports of downstream oil products like polymers, trade between Belgium and the Houston-Galveston Customs District rose 13 percent in 2005 to hit $2.9 billion. Houston posted a rare trade surplus of $1.5 billion and was the No. 2 gateway for U.S.-Belgium trade.
Just as diamonds connect Belgium with New York, petrochemicals unite it with Houston. In fact, the Belgian city of Antwerp and the area around the Port of Houston are considered two of the largest petrochemical centers in the world, and industry giants like ExxonMobil Chemical Corp. and Belgium’s Solvay have plants in both.
Ethylene polymers topped the list of Houston exports to Belgium, rising 36 percent in dollar value in 2005 to reach nearly $352 million. Exports of ethylene copolymers – used in everything from food packaging to auto gaskets – accounted for $257 million.
Refined oil remained Belgium’s top export to Houston but fell slightly from 2004 figures.
Imports of self-propelled construction machinery hit $70 million, a jump of 19 percent. Jean-Pierre Muller, Belgium’s trade commissioner in Houston for the Walloon-Brussels area, said some shipments could be tied to Caterpillar’s plant in Gosselies, which makes construction and mining equipment.
Annual Statistics: Houston moves up to No. 4 ranked Customs district (02/13/2007)
Houston likely to be No. 4 Customs district for 2006 (01/25/2007)
Houston exports see notable increase in third quarter (12/11/2006)
Semi-annual report: Houston growth at faster clip than most (09/08/2006)
Here comes China! Imports rise 85%, catapault it to No. 3 overall (07/07/2006)
Annual Report: No. 21 Angola- Mutual benefits (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 20 Japan- Houston woos and wins Japan (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: N0. 19 Norway- Symbiotic relationship (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 18 Kuwait- Embracing Mideast opportunities (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 2 Venezuela - Beyond the politicians (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 17 Italy- From leather to nuts (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 16 France- Outpaced by oil-rich nations (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 3 Nigeria - Oil lubricates market (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 15 Colombia- Coffee perks up trade (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 14 Belgium- Scoring with petrochemicals (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No.13 Russia- Imports, exports, up double digits (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 4 China - Trade skyrockets (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 12 South Korea- Fine-tuning a trade balance (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 11 Iraq- Rebuilding Iraq thanks to oil (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 5 United Kingdom - Setting a fast pace in trade (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 10 Algeria- Algeria ties its fortunes to oil (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 6 Germany - Cars add to spark-fired trade (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 9 The Netherlands- Getting a line to Europe (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 7 Saudi Arabia (07/06/2006)
Annual Report: No. 8 Brazil- New U.S. gateway for Brazil (06/14/2006)
1Q: China, Algeria, Colombia lead way as trade increases 14% (06/02/2006)
Houston's trade surges
No surprise - it's all about the price of oil (01/01/2006)