AGP Executive Report

Belgian Space Industry: Aerospacelab (Mont-Saint-Guibert) landed the biggest contract in its history to help build the EU’s IRIS² secure satellite communications constellation, making it the only Belgian prime selected among major European aerospace groups. Industrial Decarbonisation: Saint-Gobain and AGC (with AGC Glass Europe in Louvain-la-Neuve) will deploy a world-first large-scale hybrid electrified furnace for flat glass at Avilés, Spain, aiming for major CO₂ cuts and starting construction in Jan 2027. Energy Security Watch: EU gas storage refilling is lagging badly, with the bloc nearly missing its 90% November target as storage sits far below the seasonal norm. Logistics & Trade: DP World, Montea and MLSO are investing in a new Antwerp temperature-controlled logistics hub, underlining continued growth in cold-chain capacity. Security & Mobility: Brussels Airlines freezes A330 expansion and ends wet-leases for 2027 amid profitability pressure.

Belgium-linked logistics and security: Dutch customs seized 800kg of cocaine hidden in cassava flour at the Port of Amsterdam, with the shipment routed onward to Antwerp, underlining how Belgium’s supply chains stay exposed to West Africa-linked trafficking. Food and industrial investment: Lotus Bakeries plans to invest at least €500m from 2026-2030 to expand Biscoff production, including a new output hall at its Belgian site in Lembeke (commissioning mid-2028, ramping in 2029/30). Manufacturing capacity: Saab says it will double Gripen output to 25-30 jets a year by tightening assembly cycles and expanding supplier capacity, aiming to clear multinational backlogs. Smart home and connected living: CEDIA named EMEA finalists for the 2026 Smart Home Awards, with Belgium among participating countries. Digital identity and fraud prevention: Visa’s $2.4bn BioCatch deal signals a push to strengthen identity and device-behavior checks across the customer lifecycle, while Itsme warns fragmented identity flows raise costs and friction. Energy pressure: Europe’s gas reserves fell to the lowest since 2011, pushing LNG import plans ahead of winter.

Drone Security & Industry: The EU’s civil-society body (EESC) backs stronger drone and counter-drone rules focused on protecting people and aviation, while calling for a competitive European industrial base and skilled workforce. Logistics & Ports: DP World is pushing cold-chain capacity with a new €48m Antwerp hub, adding to Belgium’s growing role in temperature-controlled logistics. Energy & Supply Chains: Belgium’s LNG reliance remains in focus as reporting says Belgium received 100% of its LNG imports from Russia in July, even as EU storage levels stay tight. Wildfire Response Tech: Reuters spotlights European efforts to build or convert water-bombers to tackle wildfires, with designs tested using retired aircraft and new water-scooping systems. Local Conservation: ZOO Planckendael near Brussels is helping save the Northern Lapwing by moving at-risk eggs to incubators and releasing young birds back into the wild. Biotech Finance: Agomab (Antwerp) confirms its 2026 outlook and says it is on track for trial starts later this year.

Belgium Jobs Push: Belgium has launched a dedicated website for foreign jobseekers, listing 30,000+ vacancies and letting applicants filter by skills via a built-in search tool. Energy & LNG Watch: Despite record Russian LNG imports, EU gas storage is still only about 57% full for August, with Belgium receiving 100% of its LNG from Russia in July—raising winter security questions. Maritime Efficiency: SMM 2026 will spotlight energy efficiency with a dedicated “Energy Efficiency Hub” (1-4 Sept), reflecting shipping’s push for faster fuel-saving solutions amid uncertainty over which low-carbon fuels will win. AI in Healthcare: Leuven dental AI startup Relu secured €1.51m to accelerate US expansion, aiming to automate dental lab design and workflows. Logistics Investment: DP World, Montea and MLSO are investing US$115m in an Antwerp temperature-controlled logistics hub, underlining Belgium’s cold-chain growth. Security Risk: A drone with explosives was found near Leipzig/Halle Airport, highlighting ongoing threats to Europe’s freight and NATO airlift infrastructure.

Cold Chain Expansion in Antwerp: DP World will invest €48m to build a new temperature-controlled logistics hub at the Port of Antwerp, with total long-term investment near €100m, targeting healthcare, pharma and perishables, including dedicated multi-temperature space for fresh produce. Belgium in EU Finance: The EU will transfer $1.62bn in interest from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, with Euroclear in Belgium holding about $213bn of the immobilised assets. Belgium-Linked Corporate Deal: NHV’s proposed sale to Chinese-owned GDHF has been blocked by Belgium, adding friction to cross-border aerospace/defence-linked investment. Circular Economy Trade: A Chilean aquaculture waste stream is being turned into upcycled EPS packaging and shipped to Europe, with Spain and Belgium among the first markets. Tech & Industry Growth: Nyxoah, a Mont-Saint-Guibert sleep-apnoea medtech firm, reported strong U.S. revenue momentum and financing secured, underscoring Belgium’s role in healthcare innovation. Security & Risk: A NATO intern case in Belgium has expanded, with Canadian officials involved “from the start,” keeping attention on screening and industrial espionage risks.

Cold Chain Boost: DP World is investing €48m to build a new temperature-controlled logistics hub at the Port of Antwerp, with total long-term investment expected to reach about €100m, adding 55,000m² of specialised warehousing and direct terminal access for pharma, healthcare and perishables. Circular Economy Trade: Chile’s Aysén region shipped the first batch of compacted EPS made from salmon-farming waste to Europe, with 30 tonnes headed to Spain and Belgium—an early circular-economy export milestone. Belgium in Energy Flows: Belgium bought all July LNG imports from Russia ahead of an EU ban, underscoring how Middle East tensions are reshaping supply decisions. Minimum Wage Snapshot: Eurostat data for the second half of 2026 shows Belgium at €2,234 gross monthly minimum wage (top tier in the EU), while real purchasing power pressures persist across Europe. Public Health Trials: WHO and Belgium’s Institute of Tropical Medicine are coordinating international trials for targeted Ebola treatments and vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain, with enrolment underway in the DRC. Aviation & Logistics: SAL expands in Europe by acquiring Aviapartner Liège, adding a Belgian base for cargo operations. Industry & Markets: A new report forecasts steady growth for electro-medical and electrotherapeutic apparatus markets, driven by hospital infrastructure and demand for advanced diagnostics and therapies.

Aviation & Tourism: flynas will launch twice-weekly Brussels–Madinah flights from 5 October 2026, adding a direct link for pilgrims and business travellers. Airline Economics: Brussels Airlines posted a first-half adjusted EBIT of -€70m, freezing its long-haul A330 fleet at 11 aircraft and dropping the airBaltic wet-lease deal after a €70m loss, citing an unstable cost environment. Energy Security: Belgium relied entirely on Russian LNG imports in July, despite EU plans to tighten bans—highlighting how supply shocks still shape Belgian energy choices. Sanctions & Shipping: Russia has expanded its specialised LNG tanker fleet ahead of the 2027 EU import ban, using redirected vessels and third-country hubs to keep exports moving. Industry Regulation: The EU steel regulation consultation targets product scope and adds “melt and pour” traceability, with potential knock-on effects for Vietnam’s steel shipments to the bloc. Healthcare Innovation: Belgium-and-France trial sites report Neo-CheckRay results in early breast cancer, where adding iSBRT to durvalumab improved pathologic response. Business & Growth: trivago raised guidance after 21% Q2 revenue growth and improved profitability metrics. Sports Business: Former India pacer Zaheer Khan’s Anchor Sports AB acquired LPL franchise Jaffna Kings, rebranding it as Anchor Jaffna Kings.

Rail Procurement & Ethics: Dutch rail operator NS will keep Spanish maker CAF on track despite political and human-rights pressure over CAF’s West Bank light-rail work; NS says EU procurement rules don’t allow exclusion on “moral grounds,” so the €600m+ double-decker train overhaul stays on. Energy Security & Drought: Europe’s heat and drought are tightening water and power supplies, with Belgium urging water-saving and France shutting additional nuclear reactors as river flows drop—raising supply-risk concerns for the region. Belgium-Netherlands Grid Links: At Antwerp’s Brabo III high-voltage substation opening, Dutch PM Rob Jetten called for closer energy cooperation with Belgium to boost cross-border electricity flows and projects spanning hydrogen, nuclear and offshore wind. Fuel Prices: From tomorrow, Belgian motorists will pay notably less than in the Netherlands after Belgium cut maximum fuel prices. Solar & Industry Innovation: LONGi backs Belgium’s Innoptus Solar Team and the Netherlands’ Delft Solar Team for the 2026 American Solar Challenge, using solar racing to validate next-gen PV tech. Logistics Expansion: Saudi SAL Logistics buys Belgium’s Aviapartner Liège for $32m, creating its first European cargo-handling base at Liège Airport. Food & Manufacturing: Vandemoortele takes full control of US bakery Banneton, strengthening its North American manufacturing footprint. Corporate Performance: AB InBev reports Q2 sales up 5.6% on strong international demand for Corona, Stella Artois and Michelob Ultra.

EU Legal Fallout: Poland has appealed a Brussels court ruling ordering Warsaw to accept about 64 million Covid-19 vaccine doses and pay roughly €1.3bn plus costs, reigniting the “Pfizergate” dispute over EU Commission contracts with Pfizer-BioNTech. Energy Security: Belgium reportedly became fully dependent on Russian LNG for July imports as Middle East disruptions and shipping bottlenecks cut alternatives, while EU rules tighten ahead of a broader ban. Business Appointments: Electro Rent Europe named Stijn Sallaerts as VP & General Manager, EMEA, to expand test-and-measurement sales across aerospace, semiconductors, telecoms and AI infrastructure. AI Regulation: The EU AI Act starts applying today for voice and video synthetic content, adding transparency duties for providers worldwide whose output reaches EU audiences. Labour Costs: Eurostat data show Belgium among the higher EU minimum-wage payers in 2026, though real purchasing power is pressured where inflation outpaces wage growth. Climate Pressure: Heat and drought are forcing emergency measures across Europe, including water restrictions in Belgium and reactor shutdowns in France to protect river flows.

Food & Packaging Deal: Belgium’s Vandemoortele has taken full control of U.S. frozen bakery maker Banneton Bakery, buying the remaining stake after an earlier 80% move—keeping the Swedesboro site running and continuing investment. Energy Security: Belgium imported about 0.4 million tonnes of LNG exclusively from Russia in July as Middle East disruptions hit supply routes; LNG volumes fell sharply and EU rules on Russian LNG deals add pressure while gas storage hits very low seasonal levels. Logistics Expansion: Saudi SAL Logistics completed its first European expansion by acquiring Aviapartner Liège, giving it an operating base at Liège Airport in Belgium’s “Golden Triangle” cargo hub. Port & Construction: Belgian dredging contractor Jan De Nul is involved in Georgia’s accelerated Anaklia deep-sea port works, with first ships targeted for 2029. Tech & Mobility: WeRide is pushing into Denmark via a partnership with GreenMobility, aiming for robotaxi services in 2027, with Belgium already on its European map. Public Health: MSF Belgium urges governments to secure affordable access to lenacapavir for HIV prevention as affordability and supply remain barriers.

Port & Logistics: SAL Logistics has completed its first overseas expansion by buying Aviapartner Liège, giving the Saudi group a permanent operating base at Liège Airport and expanding its network to 20 cargo stations, with Liège’s fast-growing, 24/7 air-freight role in the EU “Golden Triangle” front and centre. EU Transport: Eurostat reports EU road freight activity rose 0.9% in 2025 (to 1,886bn tonne-km) as national moves grew, while cross-trade and cabotage fell—an important signal for supply-chain planning. Energy & Industry: Malaysia is considering limited exports of unprocessed rare earths, while keeping a broader ban—aiming to strengthen its processing leverage as China dominates rare-earth processing. Climate & Infrastructure: Brussels South Charleroi Airport will shut for 11 weeks for a major runway rebuild, cancelling flights to allow full-scale works. Security & Trade: A Belgian-linked Jan De Nul dredging vessel has entered Georgia’s Anaklia port project, with dredging planned to finish by May next year and the port targeting up to 600,000 containers annually. Business & Risk: NatWest promoted Abib Bocresion to group chief risk officer, as the bank continues reshuffling top risk leadership.

Belgian Logistics Expansion: SAL Logistics has completed its €32m cash acquisition of Aviapartner Liège, giving the Saudi group its first operational base outside Saudi Arabia and expanding to 20 stations, with Liège Airport as a 24/7 cargo gateway in Europe’s “Golden Triangle.” Airport Infrastructure Disruption: Brussels South Charleroi Airport will shut for 11 weeks for a major £43m runway and airfield overhaul, cancelling flights during the works. Research Integrity Probe: Utrecht University is investigating conflicts of interest after reporting linked an associate professor to personal payments from Red Bull and Sen-Jam Pharmaceuticals tied to publications. Tech Supply Pressure: A global memory chip shortage is keeping consumer prices high, with “RAMaggedon” driven by AI demand for advanced RAM and forecasts of tighter supply into 2027-2028. Climate & Heat Risk: Belgium-based climate experts warn Europe’s heatwaves could rise sharply by mid-century, with adaptation and prevention now urgent. Defence Aviation Demo: A Belgian-Luxembourg Airbus A400M landed on a public road in Sweden during a military exercise, highlighting tactical flexibility.

Chemicals & Ports: Ineos says its Antwerp ethylene “Project One” complex will start up in the second half of 2027 after Middle East-related delays, with huge ethane-cracker modules finally delivered via Hormuz/Suez. Industrial Automation: Belgian 3D-printing firm 3iD Printing is installing an automated post-processing line in Belgium to cut manual part handling and boost throughput, using machine vision for identification and sorting. Energy Storage Push: The EU’s civil society body (EESC) calls for a common EU energy storage strategy, arguing storage is critical infrastructure for energy independence—an issue that matters for Belgium’s grid and industry transition. Consumer Tech Pressure: A global RAM shortage dubbed “RAMaggedon” is driving steep price rises for electronics, with Samsung warning the squeeze could deepen into 2027-2028. Food & Tourism Culture: Manneken Pis wears a fry-shop outfit for International Day of Belgian Fries, while Tomorrowland’s organiser WEAREONE.world confirms plans for Tomorrowland Thailand—showing how Belgium’s event know-how keeps exporting. Spying Case in Belgium: Belgian authorities arrested a Chinese-Canadian woman linked to NATO SHAPE on suspicion of spying, with detention extended as the investigation continues.

Espionage Case in Belgium: Belgian authorities arrested a Chinese-Canadian woman in Mons on July 24 over alleged spying for a third country inside NATO’s SHAPE structure, with a judge keeping her in custody for at least another month as the investigation continues. Industrial Additive Manufacturing: Belgian 3D-printing service 3iD Printing is installing an automated post-processing line from AM-Flow to cut manual part handling, boost throughput and reduce sorting errors as production scales. Energy Storage Push: The EU’s EESC calls for a common energy storage strategy, arguing storage is critical infrastructure for energy independence and that the market alone won’t deliver enough capacity. Shipping Security: EU maritime mission ASPDIS reports a merchant vessel safely transited the Red Sea under escort amid renewed Houthi disruptions that are raising shipping and oil-price risks. Logistics & Trade Routes: Kazakhstan’s KTZ launched a first multimodal mineral-fertilizer shipment to the UK via the Middle Corridor, with Belgium listed among KTZ destinations. EU Border Tech Pressure: The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System hit its first summer peak with up to eight-hour queues at a major border crossing. Aviation Talent Pipeline: Emirates Engineering launched a Material Futures Studio upcycling programme to train university students using retired aircraft materials, aiming to grow the next aviation workforce.

EU-Vietnam Trade: Vietnamese experts say EVFTA’s export edge in the EU is real but temporary, with a 3–5 year head start likely to fade as the bloc signs more deals and tightens rules like carbon and traceability. Fertilizer & Logistics: Kazakhstan’s KTZ launched its first mineral fertilizer shipment to the UK via the Middle Corridor, using rail across Central Asia and sea through the Caspian and South Caucasus to Felixstowe—aimed at faster, more resilient supply chains. Belgium in Transport Flows: Eurostat data show EU inland waterway freight fell 3% in 2025; international transport dominates, with Belgium among the higher-share users. Road Freight Scale: EU road freight rose in 2025, with five countries (including Belgium’s neighbours) accounting for two thirds of tonne-kilometres. Belgian Security: Belgian prosecutors arrested a Canadian intern at NATO SHAPE in Mons, alleging spying for a third country and links to a criminal organization. Aerospace Manufacturing: Sonaca (Gosselies) will develop and industrialize wings and parts for Otto Aerospace’s Phantom 3500, supporting certification work. Industrial Cyber/Autonomy: Shield AI and Thunder Tiger demonstrated autonomous maritime teaming for Taiwan using SeaShark vessels to fuse sensors and coordinate escort.

Health Policy: Ireland’s minister says the breakthrough Friedreich’s Ataxia drug Skyclarys is still under scientific and economic review, with a two-stage reimbursement process and costs around €300,000 per patient annually. EU Labour & Inclusion: A new study finds immigrant employment in the EU hit 68% in 2025, but Belgium lags for non-EU immigrants and gender gaps remain a key driver. Defence Industry & Autonomy: Shield AI and Thunder Tiger demonstrated Hivemind multi-asset autonomous maritime teaming with SeaShark drones, aiming for persistent surveillance without tying up crewed ships. Land Systems Contract: Rheinmetall won a major UK deal to produce complete 155mm L/52 remote-controlled weapon assemblies for 72 RCH 155 howitzers in Telford, supporting domestic serial production. Belgium Logistics & Ports: Lomé Container Terminal’s managing director Tim Vancampen is pushing a €120m expansion to lift capacity from 2m to 2.5m TEUs by 2027. Energy & Claims Check: A fact-check warns viral “annual energy bills” comparisons mix up wholesale prices with what consumers actually pay. Eurozone Macro: Eurostat reports euro area GDP up 0.4% in Q2 and EU up 0.5%, with Belgium among the lowest-growth countries.