In 2017 Belgium exported 202,494 tonnes of beef or 10.3% more than in 2016. Also in the long term beef exports are rising: for the last 5 year the compound annual growth rate amounted to 6.8%. The vast majority of Belgian beef, namely 90%, goes to countries within the European Union. Exports within the Union rose by 8.6%, those to third countries by 27.5%.