ty - exports: 6.4 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports: 7.75 billion kWh (1998)

Agriculture - products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain,
tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Exports: $187.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds,
metals and metal products

Exports - partners: EU 76% (Germany 19%, France 18%, Netherlands 12%,
UK 10%) (1998)

Imports: $172.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and
metal products

Imports - partners: EU 71% (Germany 18%, Netherlands 17%, France 14%,
UK 9%) (1998)

Debt - external: $28.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - donor: ODA, $764 million (1997)

Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999);
Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 34.77 (January 1999), 36.229 (1998),
35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995)
note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is
now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a
fixed rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace
the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in
2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

@Belgium:Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 4.632 million (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 664,000 (1999)

Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
completely automated domestic and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations: FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 8.075 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 24 (1997)

Televisions: 4.72 million (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 51 (1999)

@Belgium:Transportation

Railways:
total: 3,437 km (2,446 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,437 km 1.435-m gauge (1998)

Highways:
total: 145,850 km
paved: 117,701 km (including 1,682 km of expressways)
unpaved: 28,149 km (1998)

Waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)

Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural gas
3,300 km

Ports and harbors: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge,
G