Belgium’s economy grew by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2026, confirming the preliminary estimate and marking an acceleration from the 0.1% expansion recorded in the previous quarter. The increase in output was driven primarily by stronger household consumption and higher residential investment, while demand from the public sector weakened.
External trade activity also strengthened over the period: exports of goods and services rose by 2.6%, and imports increased by 2.8%. On the production side, construction output expanded by 0.5% and services by 0.3%, whereas industrial activity declined by 0.2%. On a year-on-year basis, GDP grew by 0.8% in the first quarter.
