USD 37.80·EUR 42.10

Doing business with Belgium

Belgium is a Dutch-speaking EU market (in Flanders) with Antwerp as one of Europe's largest ports. Trade with Suriname is modest: in 2025 Belgium supplied USD 22 million and bought USD 2 million, mainly timber. The Surinamese embassy in Brussels is also the mission to the EU.

Exports from Suriname (2025)
USD 2.4 million
Belgian figures via UN Comtrade
Imports into Suriname (2025)
USD 21.8 million
Belgian figures via UN Comtrade
Trade regime
EU EPA
duty and quota free for Surinamese goods
On this page (12)
In short
  • Same rules as the rest of the EU: duty and quota free under the EPA, but EU product rules.
  • Antwerp is a possible port of entry for the whole EU.
  • Suriname has an embassy in Brussels; Belgium has no embassy in Paramaribo.

Trade in figures

According to Belgian figures (UN Comtrade), Belgium supplied USD 21.8 million to Suriname in 2025 and bought USD 2.4 million, almost all timber. Exports to Suriname in 2024 were mainly machinery, preserved fruit and vegetables, animal feed, drinks, fertiliser and flour. In 2022 Belgium reported much higher imports from Suriname (USD 182.5 million); such jumps usually come from a few large cargoes of raw materials or precious metal.

Amounts in US dollars. Because Suriname does not report most of its exports (gold) by country, we use the partner country's figures: its imports from Suriname are Suriname's exports, its exports to Suriname are Suriname's imports. Imports usually include freight and insurance (CIF) and exports do not (FOB), so the two sides always differ somewhat.

Trade agreements and duties

Belgium falls under the EPA between the EU and CARIFORUM: Surinamese goods enter duty and quota free with an EUR.1 or origin declaration. Goods you import in Antwerp can then move freely throughout the EU.

How rules of origin, certificates and preferential rates work is explained in Trade agreements and market access.

Market access in practice

The same EU requirements as in the Netherlands: food safety, residues, labels (in Dutch in Flanders, in French in Wallonia), phytosanitary certificates and the EU rules on timber and deforestation. In Belgium the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) checks on arrival. Flanders has a Surinamese community, but it is much smaller than in the Netherlands.

Transport and travel

There are no direct flights to Belgium; travellers go via Amsterdam. Container services between Northern Europe and Paramaribo often call at both Rotterdam and Antwerp; ask your forwarder which port is cheapest for your route and end customer.

Flights and sailing schedules change often. Check them with the airline or your forwarder before you plan. Shipping and logistics · Business trip to Suriname

Embassies and consulates

Suriname has an embassy in Brussels, which also represents Suriname at the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. Belgium has no embassy in Paramaribo. In March 2022 the two countries signed an MoU on consular and migration cooperation.

Addresses and opening hours of Suriname's missions are on the official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: embassies.gov.sr.

Chambers, networks and support

We could not find a Suriname-Belgium chamber of commerce. For contacts with Flemish companies, Voka (the Flemish business network) and the Surinamese embassy in Brussels are the first points of contact.

In Suriname, SITA (export and investment promotion), the KKF and EZOTI can help. Business organisations are listed in Business associations.

Opportunities

  • Legally sourced timber with EUDR evidence for Belgian importers.
  • Antwerp as a distribution point for Surinamese products to the rest of Europe.
  • Contacts in Brussels with EU programmes for the Caribbean, through the embassy.

These are possibilities that fit the trade between the two countries, not a promise of customers. Test an idea first with conversations, samples and numbers. Market research

Watch out for

  • Same EU checks as in the Netherlands: a rejected shipment is expensive.
  • Small Surinamese community: the niche market is smaller than in the Netherlands.

How to start

  1. Test the market. Look at the figures above to see what is already traded, and talk to at least three buyers or suppliers. Market research
  2. Determine the HS code and the tariff. Look up the import duty in the destination country, and whether you can get a preference. Trade agreements and market access
  3. Meet the requirements. Certificate of origin, phytosanitary or health certificate, label and any registration of your business. Exporting from Suriname
  4. Agree delivery and payment. Choose an Incoterm, a payment method (prepayment, L/C) and the currency. Accepting payments
  5. Work out the total cost. Freight, insurance, duties and margin. Price and markup · Import cost calculator
  6. Start with a trial shipment and keep all documents per shipment. Proforma invoice

Guides that help next

Other countries

Sources

Checked on 26 October 2026. General information, not legal or customs advice. Have tariffs and requirements confirmed per shipment.