Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 3/9/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** NL5010

NL5007

**Netherlands**

**Food Processing Ingredients Sector**

**Annual**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Roger Wentzel

U.S. Embassy, The Hague

**Prepared by:**

Marcel Pinckaers

**Report Highlights:**

Benelux food processing industry, which has a yearly turnover of about
\$100 Billion, is situated around the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and
Antwerp and serves the entire EU.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

The Hague \[NL1\]

\[NL\]

Table of Contents

[**Section I.** **Market Summary 3**](#section-i.-market-summary)

[Key Data Benelux Food Processing Industry
3](#key-data-benelux-food-processing-industry)

[Market Developments 3](#market-developments)

[Advantages and Challenges for US products in the Benelux
4](#advantages-and-challenges-for-us-products-in-the-benelux)

[Section II. Road Map For Market Entry
4](#section-ii.-road-map-for-market-entry)

[A. Entry Strategy 4](#a.-entry-strategy)

[B. Market Structure 5](#b.-market-structure)

[C. Company Profile 5](#c.-company-profile)

[D. Sector Trends 6](#d.-sector-trends)

[E. Consumer Trends 6](#e.-consumer-trends)

[Section III. Competition 7](#section-iii.-competition)

[Section IV. Best Product Prospects
8](#section-iv.-best-product-prospects)

[Products Present In The Market That Have Good Sales Potential
8](#products-present-in-the-market-that-have-good-sales-potential)

[Products Not Present In Significant Quantities But Which Have Good
Sales Potential
8](#products-not-present-in-significant-quantities-but-which-have-good-sales-potential)

[Products Not Present Because They Face Significant Barriers
8](#products-not-present-because-they-face-significant-barriers)

[Section V. Post Contact and Further Information
9](#section-v.-post-contact-and-further-information)

# Section I. Market Summary

## Key Data Benelux Food Processing Industry 

Figure 1. Trade statistics Benelux

  ----------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
                                      **2001**   **2002**   **2003**   **2004**

  Turnover food processing industry,  83,341     82,746     \*83,000   \*84,000
  euro                                                                 

  Export all agriculture and food,    59,514     64,850     78,095     \*82,000
  euro                                                                 

  Import all agriculture and food,    41,303     44,560     54,139     \*56,000
  euro                                                                 

  Balance trade agriculture and food, 18,210     20,290     23,956     \*26,000
  euro                                                                 

  Number food processors              11,449     11,047     \*11,000   \*10,000
  ----------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

Source: World Trade Atlas, CBS, FEVIA

NOTE: all numbers in table are in million EURO, except number of
processors

Trade numbers for 2004 are based on Jan-Nov WTA figures

\*USDA The Hague estimates

Conversion rates:

1997 Euro 1.00 = US\$ 1.16, 1998 Euro 1.00 = US\$ 1.08, 1999 Euro 1.00 =
US\$ 1.06, 2000 Euro 1.00 = US\$ 0.92, 2001 Euro 1.00 = US\$ 0.90, 2002
Euro 1.00 = US\$ 0.95, 2003 Euro 1.00 = US\$ 1.12, 2004 Euro 1.00 = US\$
1.24

## Market Developments

The Netherlands derives two-thirds of its GDP from merchandise trade and
had a positive balance of trade in 2003 of over 30 Billion dollars. The
food-processing sector in the Benelux, like the Dutch economy, is
heavily oriented toward import, transformation and export. While the
Belgian-Dutch border separates many food processors, in point of fact
major food processors are clustered in a corridor formed by the port
cities of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

These processors serve not only the Benelux market, which would be too
small to sustain them, but the entire European market. This
international focus gives rise to and sustains a number of features that
are unique to the Benelux food processing sector:

-   Turnover of the Benelux processing industry has been stable at
    €83,500 for the past four years. The value of imported inputs has
    gone up but the value of exports has grown even faster, resulting in
    a trade surplus estimated at €26 billion in 2004.

-   GDP and population are growing slowly in Western Europe, so new
    marketing opportunities are found in South, Central and Eastern
    Europe. Although the changing composition of the domestic population
    may lead to demand for different food products.

```{=html}
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-   Knowledgeable traders, Europe's leading ports (Rotterdam, Antwerp
    and Amsterdam), a good distribution system, a competitive processing
    industry and efficient marketing systems, make the Benelux an
    attractive market for trading and processing agricultural products.

-   Food manufacturing, handling and import regulations are almost
    completely harmonized within the EU, making regional trade fairly
    easy. Trade barriers, import regulations, import and transportation
    costs and time constraints all complicate imports from non-EU
    countries.

-   In 2004, consumers in the Benelux spent more than €53 billion on
    food, the equivalent of 15% of total spending. Population in the
    Benelux totals 27 million people; with more than two-thirds living
    in a 100 mile corridor stretching from Amsterdam to Brussels. There
    are some 11.4 million households with an average size of 2.3 people.
    The trend is toward smaller household size and the population is
    aging (over 14 percent of the population is 65 years or older).

## Advantages and Challenges for US products in the Benelux

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **Advantages**                      **Challenges**

  The Benelux has a large, export     Food safety and phytosanitary
  oriented food processing industry   restrictions affect imports of food
  with high quality standards         ingredients

  The Benelux is centrally located    Traceability and quality control
  with over 100 million affluent      systems required for many products;
  consumers within 300 kilometers of  biotech-free certification often
  its borders                         requested

  High accessibility through major    MRL level and sanitary standards
  seaports (Antwerp, Rotterdam and    becoming increasingly strict
  Amsterdam) and airports (Brussels   
  and Amsterdam)                      

  Easy transit to the rest of the     Large supplies available from the
  European Union because of good      domestic market, other European
  road, rail and waterway (Rijn, Maas countries and non-EU countries
  and Schelde) infrastructure         

  Recent exchange rates make inputs   Ongoing process of consolidation
  from the US cheaper                 
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

# Section II. Road Map For Market Entry

## A. Entry Strategy

New-to-market US exporters can contact the Office of Agricultural
Affairs in The Hague to find out what prospects exist for their product
on the Benelux market. US exporters may wish to consider participating
in one of the many European trade shows. In addition to multi-products
shows like Anuga and SIAL, product specific trade shows such as the
European Seafood Exhibition, Biofach, ISM, FruitLogistica and the Health
Ingredients Show are regularly held. These events offer good
opportunities to meet importers from the Benelux and throughout Europe.
Importers and processors often look to the US market for new products
and concepts.

Import regulations are harmonized throughout the region so traders are
often able to assist US exporters in gaining access to a number of
markets. However, US ingredients face fierce competition in the Benelux.
Most products available from the US are also produced and processed in
the domestic market or can be sourced from neighboring countries.
Products either not available or prohibitively expensive on the European
market are imported.

Various options exist for shipping to the Benelux. The Benelux has the
most important seaports of Europe, including Rotterdam, Antwerp and
Amsterdam. Depending on the type of commodities and quantities, a
different seaport can offer competitive advantages because of the
specialized facilities on site. The Benelux also offers two main
airports, Amsterdam and Brussels. Moreover, distance and transportation
costs are competitive due to the excellent road, rail and waterway
infrastructure, offering exporters the opportunity to combine shipments
to several European destinations and ship through the region.

## B. Market Structure

![](media/image2.wmf){width="5.992361111111111in"
height="0.6715277777777777in"}Food processors in general buy their
ingredients from local or multinational traders, large processors have
direct contact with international suppliers. Large retailers' buying
organizations buy directly from the processor, whereas the HRI industry
and some smaller retailers buy through wholesalers and distributors.

It should be noted that virtually all major multinational agri-food
concerns have production and logistics facilities in this market. As a
result, product availability is rarely a concern, except for the most
unusual ingredients. Processors are often keen, however, to develop
alternative lines of supply for quality, reliability or price reasons.

## C. Company Profile

Please find below a table providing company names and websites and the
product category they are active in.

Figure 6. Company overview

+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| **Product types**        | **Company**           | **Website**      |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Red meats and poultry    | Imperial meat         | [www.imper       |
| meat                     | Products              | ial.be](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.imperial.be/) |
| \[Approximate turnover = | Covavee               |                  |
| \$7 Billion\]            |                       | [www.cov         |
|                          | Ter Beke Fresh Food   | avee.be](http:// |
|                          |                       | www.covavee.be/) |
|                          | Nutreco               |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.terbe       |
|                          | Sovion                | ke.com](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.terbeke.com/) |
|                          | Compaxo               |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.nutre       |
|                          | Plukon                | co.com](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.nutreco.com/) |
|                          | Plusfood              |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.s           |
|                          |                       | ovion.nl](http:/ |
|                          |                       | /www.sovion.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.compa       |
|                          |                       | xo.net](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.compaxo.net/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.f           |
|                          |                       | riki.com](http:/ |
|                          |                       | /www.friki.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.plusf       |
|                          |                       | ood.nl](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.plusfood.nl/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Fish and seafood         | Pieters               | [www.piete       |
| products                 |                       | rs.com](http://w |
|                          | Morubel               | ww.pieters.com/) |
| \[Approximate turnover = |                       |                  |
| \$500 Million\]          | Gadus                 | [www.mor         |
|                          |                       | ubel.be](http:// |
|                          | Anova                 | www.morubel.be/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Heiploeg              | [www             |
|                          |                       | .gadus.be](http: |
|                          | Ouwehand              | //www.gadus.be/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Primstar              | [www.anovafood   |
|                          |                       | .net](http://www |
|                          |                       | .anovafood.net/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.heipl       |
|                          |                       | oeg.nl](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.heiploeg.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.ouwehan     |
|                          |                       | d.com](http://ww |
|                          |                       | w.ouwehand.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.prim7stars. |
|                          |                       | com](http://www. |
|                          |                       | prim7stars.com/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Dairy products           | Belgomilk             | [www.belgomi     |
|                          |                       | lk.be](http://ww |
|                          | FCDC                  | w.belgomilk.be/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Campina Melkunie      | [w               |
|                          |                       | ww.fcdf.nl](http |
|                          | Danone                | ://www.fcdf.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.cam         |
|                          |                       | pina.nl](http:// |
|                          |                       | www.campina.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.d           |
|                          |                       | anone.be](http:/ |
|                          |                       | /www.danone.be/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Prepared fruit and       | Ardo                  | [www             |
| vegetables, oilseed      |                       | .ardo.com](http: |
| products                 | Unifrost              | //www.ardo.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
| \[Approximate turnover = | Pinguin               | [www.unifr       |
| \$3.4 Billion\]          |                       | ost.be](http://w |
|                          | Materne-Confilux      | ww.unifrost.be/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Hak                   | [www.pin         |
|                          |                       | guin.be](http:// |
|                          | Bonduelle             | www.pinguin.be/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.mater       |
|                          |                       | ne.com](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.materne.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.hak.nl](htt |
|                          |                       | p://www.hak.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.bonduel     |
|                          |                       | le.nl](http://ww |
|                          |                       | w.bonduelle.nl/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Confectionary products   | Baronie -- De Heer    | www.baronie.com  |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Braskamp              | www.meenkdrop.nl |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Baked goods              | Lu, General biscuits  | [www.d           |
|                          |                       | anone.be](http:/ |
|                          | Biscuits Delacre      | /www.danone.be/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Lotus Bakeries        | [www.biscuit     |
|                          |                       | s.com](http://ww |
|                          | Unipro                | w.biscuits.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Verkade               | [www.l           |
|                          |                       | otusbakeries.com |
|                          | Sultana               | ](http://www.lot |
|                          |                       | usbakeries.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www             |
|                          |                       | .uniprobakery.co |
|                          |                       | m](http://www.un |
|                          |                       | iprobakery.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.uni         |
|                          |                       | tedbiscuits.com] |
|                          |                       | (http://www.unit |
|                          |                       | edbiscuits.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.uni         |
|                          |                       | tedbiscuits.com] |
|                          |                       | (http://www.unit |
|                          |                       | edbiscuits.com/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Snack foods              | Pringles              | [www.pg.com](htt |
|                          |                       | p://www.pg.com/) |
|                          | Lay's                 |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.pepsi       |
|                          | Duyvis                | co.com](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.pepsico.com/) |
|                          | Jack klein            |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.d           |
|                          |                       | uyvis.nl](http:/ |
|                          |                       | /www.duyvis.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.t           |
|                          |                       | henutcompany.com |
|                          |                       | ](http://www.the |
|                          |                       | nutcompany.com/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Beverages                | Coca Cola             | [www.coca-col    |
|                          |                       | a.com](http://ww |
|                          | Pepsi                 | w.coca-cola.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Heineken              | [www.pepsi       |
|                          |                       | co.com](http://w |
|                          | Grolsch               | ww.pepsico.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Amstel                | [www.heine       |
|                          |                       | ken.nl](http://w |
|                          | Spa                   | ww.heineken.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Appelsientje,         | [www.gro         |
|                          | chocomel, coolbest    | lsch.nl](http:// |
|                          |                       | www.grolsch.nl/) |
|                          | Hero                  |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.heine       |
|                          |                       | ken.nl](http://w |
|                          |                       | ww.heineken.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.spawate     |
|                          |                       | r.com](http://ww |
|                          |                       | w.spawater.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [w               |
|                          |                       | ww.fcdf.nl](http |
|                          |                       | ://www.fcdf.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [w               |
|                          |                       | ww.hero.nl](http |
|                          |                       | ://www.hero.nl/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Processed potatoes       | Vanderbrouke-Lutosa   | [www.lut         |
|                          |                       | osa.com](http:// |
|                          | McCain Foods          | www.lutosa.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Lamb Weston Meijer    | [www.mcc         |
|                          |                       | ain.com](http:// |
|                          | Farm Frites           | www.mccain.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.lambweston. |
|                          |                       | com](http://www. |
|                          |                       | lambweston.com/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.farmfrites. |
|                          |                       | com](http://www. |
|                          |                       | farmfrites.com/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Dry goods and condiments | Campbell Foods        | [www.c           |
|                          |                       | ampbell-foods.be |
|                          | HJ Heinz              | ](http://www.cam |
|                          |                       | pbell-foods.be/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.h           |
|                          |                       | einz.com](http:/ |
|                          |                       | /www.heinz.com/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+
| Prepared meals           | Conimex               | [www.con         |
|                          |                       | imex.nl](http:// |
|                          | Struik                | www.conimex.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          | Mora                  | [www.s           |
|                          |                       | truik.nl](http:/ |
|                          | Beckers               | /www.struik.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [w               |
|                          |                       | ww.mora.nl](http |
|                          |                       | ://www.mora.nl/) |
|                          |                       |                  |
|                          |                       | [www.bec         |
|                          |                       | kers.nl](http:// |
|                          |                       | www.beckers.nl/) |
+--------------------------+-----------------------+------------------+

Source: USDA The Hague

## D. Sector Trends

The food-processing sector in the Benelux has an annual turnover of €84
billion. Most important sectors are meat and poultry, dairy, animal feed
and fruit and vegetables. Many of the world's leading food
manufacturers, including Cargill, ADM and Unilever BestFoods, have
production facilities in the Benelux.

Reliable data on sector turnover is difficult to obtain for many of the
sub-sectors listed above. Often, these sectors are so heavily
concentrated that sales/production figures are not made public in order
to maintain confidentiality for the limited number of participants.

## E. Consumer Trends

Developments in the Benelux Food Processing industry are driven by
consumer trends throughout Western and Central Europe. The profile of
the European consumer has been undergoing steady transformation. Those
consumers are aging, live in ever-smaller households and increasingly
opt for pre-prepared meals or eating out. The changing population
structure has created lucrative new markets for the HRI industry: the
graying population, the working household and ethnic minority groups,
all of which are growing.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Consumers' Needs and Preferences:

  **Health**: natural ingredients - lower calories -- no sugar -- healthy
  meals

  **Convenience**: fresh pre-packed food components -- take-away -- fresh
  ready-to-eat meals

  **Price**: discount - special offers

  **Obesity**: increasingly becoming a problem for consumers at all ages
  --becoming more aware of the composition of their diet and exercise

  **Food Safety**: more information -- more guarantees

  **Distribution**: more specialty shops

  **Stores**: more personal service -- wider assortment- more fresh and
  non-food -- convenience foods -- while at the same time there is huge
  demand for limited assortment as long as the products are cheap
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

# Section III. Competition

The Benelux is a huge importer of food and agricultural product which
are being processed and sold subsequently on the domestic or
international market, in addition product are traded directly without
any form of processing.

Figure 8. Belgium Imports

+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| Belgium: Imports   |         |                                      |
| of Products 2003   |         |                                      |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| HS Code & Product  | Total   | Origins                              |
|                    | Import  |                                      |
|                    | Value   |                                      |
|                    |         |                                      |
|                    | Mil     |                                      |
|                    | US\$    |                                      |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| Total              | 18      | France 28%, NL 21%, Germany 11%,     |
|                    | ,703.39 | U.K. 4%                              |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 08 Edible Fruit &  | 2       | Costa Rica 12%, Colombia 11% N.Z.    |
| Nuts               | ,450.39 | 9%, Spain 8%                         |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 04 Dairy Eggs      | 2       | NL 30%, France 29%, Germany 22%,     |
| Honey etc          | ,416.96 | U.K. 7%                              |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 22 Beverages       | 1       | France 56%, Germany 11%, NL 8%, U.K. |
|                    | ,829.35 | 7%.                                  |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 03 Fish & Seafood  | 1       | NL 25%, France 8%, Denmark 7%        |
|                    | ,083.09 | Bangladesh 7%                        |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 20 Preserved Food  | 1       | Brazil 27% France 18%, NL 17%,       |
|                    | ,069.94 | Germany 14%                          |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 07 Vegetables      | 1       | NL 33%, France 27%, Spain 11%,       |
|                    | ,052.81 | Thailand 4%                          |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 02 Meat            | 1       | France 28%, NL 24%, N.Z. 15%,        |
|                    | ,038.44 | Germany 9%                           |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 10 Cereals         | 1       | France 49%, Germany 15%, Canada 6%,  |
|                    | ,013.94 | U.S. 6%                              |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 19 Baking Related  | 1       | France 33%, Germany 24%, NL 21%,     |
|                    | ,006.54 | Italy 8%                             |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 15 Fats & Oils     | 974.07  | NL 52%, France 17%, Germany 6%,      |
|                    |         | Italy 6%                             |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 18 Cocoa           | 966.16  | France 28%, NL 23%, Cote d'Ivoire    |
|                    |         | 14%, Germany 10%                     |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 12 Misc Grain,     | 913.49  | Brazil 20%, France 19%, U.S. 18%,    |
| Seed, Fruit        |         | Canada 14%                           |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 17 Sugar           | 836.01  | France 61%, NL 19%, Germany 10%,     |
|                    |         | U.K. 1%                              |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 21 Miscellaneous   | 670.97  | NL 33%, France 22%, Germany 19%,     |
| Food               |         | U.K. 5%.                             |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 16 Prepared Meat,  | 661.36  | NL 26%, France 26%, Germany 19%,     |
| Fish etc           |         | Italy 5%                             |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 09 Spices, Coffee  | 407.99  | France 17%, Germany 15%, Brazil 12%, |
| and Tea            |         | NL 7%                                |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 11 Milling; Malt;  | 304.38  | France 50% NL 29 %, Germany 11%,     |
| Starch             |         | U.K. 4%                              |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+
| 14 Other Vegetable | 7.50    | Portugal 17%, France 16%, NL 13%,    |
|                    |         | China 12%                            |
+--------------------+---------+--------------------------------------+

Source: Trade Atlas

Figure 9. Dutch Imports

+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| Netherlands:       |         |                                       |
| Imports of         |         |                                       |
| Products 2003      |         |                                       |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| HS Code & Product  | Total   | Origins                               |
|                    | Import  |                                       |
|                    | Value   |                                       |
|                    |         |                                       |
|                    | Mil     |                                       |
|                    | US\$    |                                       |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| Total              | 26      | Germany 20%, Belgium 15%, France 9%,  |
|                    | ,292.44 | Brazil 7%                             |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 08 Edible Fruit &  | 2       | South Africa 13%, Spain 12%, Belgium  |
| Nuts               | ,793.31 | 10% Brazil 8%                         |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 04 Dairy Eggs      | 2       | Germany 40%, Belgium 18%, France 9%,  |
| Honey etc          | ,751.32 | N.Z. 9%                               |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 12 Misc Grain,     | 2       | Brazil 36%, U.S. 23%, Argentina 5%,   |
| Seed, Fruit        | ,207.61 | China 4%                              |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 02 Meat            | 2       | Germany 29%, Belgium 22%, Brazil 12%. |
|                    | ,107.80 | Ireland 8%                            |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 18 Cocoa           | 2       | Cote d'Ivoire 38%, Belgium 11%,       |
|                    | ,107.48 | Nigeria 11%, Cameroon 9%              |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 22 Beverages       | 1       | France 24%, Belgium 18%, Germany 18%, |
|                    | ,967.09 | U.S. 5%                               |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 20 Preserved Food  | 1       | Germany 23%, Brazil 22%, Belgium 11%, |
|                    | ,822.69 | U.S. 5%                               |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 15 Fats & Oils     | 1       | Germany 22%, Malaysia 17%, Indonesia  |
|                    | ,688.70 | 14%, Belgium 10%                      |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 07 Vegetables      | 1       | Spain 35% Germany 16%, Belgium 15%,   |
|                    | ,642.95 | France 9%                             |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 03 Fish & Seafood  | 1       | Iceland 16%, Germany 13%, Belgium     |
|                    | ,584.15 | 10%, U.K. 9%                          |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 10 Cereals         | 1       | France 45%, Germany 29%, Belgium 7%,  |
|                    | ,234.20 | U.K. 3%                               |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 21 Miscellaneous   | 1       | Germany 28%, Belgium 17%, U.K. 12%,   |
| Food               | ,016.88 | France 8%                             |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 19 Baking Related  | 1       | Belgium 34%, Germany 29%, France 9%,  |
|                    | ,003.60 | U.K. 7%                               |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 16 Prepared Meat,  | 937.81  | Belgium 25%, Germany 20%, Brazil 13%, |
| Fish etc           |         | Thailand 9%                           |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 09 Spices, Coffee  | 543.84  | Germany 20%, Brazil 10%, Belgium 7%,  |
| and Tea            |         | Indonesia 7%                          |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 17 Sugar           | 508.23  | Belgium 28%, France 21%, Germany 18%, |
|                    |         | U.K. 5%                               |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 11 Milling; Malt;  | 347.24  | Belgium 44%, Germany 30%, France 16%, |
| Starch             |         | U.K. 5%                               |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+
| 14 Other Vegetable | 27.52   | China 23%, India 16%, Hungary 14%,    |
|                    |         | Sri Lanka 7%                          |
+--------------------+---------+---------------------------------------+

Source: Trade Atlas

# Section IV. Best Product Prospects

## Products Present In The Market That Have Good Sales Potential

-   Tree nuts, especially almonds, pistachios and pecans.

-   Fruit juices and juice preparations.

-   Dried/processed fruit (especially berries and prunes).

-   Peanuts, shelled or blanched.

-   Milk wheys, albumins, derivatives and protein extracts.

## Products Not Present In Significant Quantities But Which Have Good Sales Potential

-   While very little market information is available, strong prospects
    for growth appear to exist for processing aids and specialized food
    ingredients.

## Products Not Present Because They Face Significant Barriers

-   Red Meat and Meat Preparations (hormone ban)

-   Poultry (sanitary procedures)

-   Processed Products (GMO)

# Section V. Post Contact and Further Information

United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service

Agriculture Export Service

<http://www.fas.usda.gov/agexport/exporter.html>

Office of Agricultural Affairs at the American Embassy

Postal Address: U.S. Embassy-AGR, PC71, Box 038, APO AE 09715

Visitor Address: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ The Hague, the Netherlands

Phone: 31-70-3109299,

Fax: 31-70-3657681,

E-mail: <agthehague@fas.usda.gov>

For more information on exporting U.S. Products to the Benelux, please
visit the FAS website at [www.fas.usda.gov](http://www.fas.usda.gov/)