Current account balance:
$12.09 billion (2003)
Exports:
$253.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 25.3%, Belgium 12.6%, France 10.2%, UK 10.1%, Italy 6%, US
4.5% (2003)
Imports:
$217.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs,
clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 18.2%, Belgium 10%, US 8%, UK 7.3%, China 6.2%, France 5%
(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$21.44 billion (2003)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $3.3 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries