Ranking · Flanders · NACE 17
Manufacture of paper and paper products: the largest employers in Flanders
As of 14 Nov 2026, 150 companies in Manufacture of paper and paper products (NACE 17) in Flanders report employees in recent accounts (financial years 2023 to 2026). The 10 largest employers account for 3,834.1 FTE, out of 8,711.3 for all of them; median headcount is 18.2 FTE. Ontex leads with 578.9 FTE (financial year 2025).
Top 50 · Manufacture of paper and paper products · Flanders
Ranked by average headcount (FTE) reported in the latest filed accounts (accounts less than 3 years old).
| # | Company | Total assets | Revenue | Equity | FTE | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ontex 9255 Buggenhout | €1.14bn | €1.51bn | €360.1m | 578.9 | 2025 |
| 2 | VPK Packaging 9200 Dendermonde | €114.9m | €348.3m | €43.8m | 570.8 | 2025 |
| 3 | Avery Dennison Belgie 2300 Turnhout | €140.4m | €150.7m | €42.4m | 382.6 | 2025 |
| 4 | DS Smith Packaging Belgium 9000 Ghent | €82.8m | €76.5m | €40.5m | 369.8 | 2025 |
| 5 | CNR Packaging 2500 Lier | €1.42m | — | 117,886 € | 362.0 | 2024 |
| 6 | Stora Enso Langerbrugge 9000 Ghent | €211.6m | €270.0m | €109.2m | 348.1 | 2025 |
| 7 | Smurfit Westrock Turnhout 2300 Turnhout | €82.0m | €119.7m | €53.3m | 330.7 | 2025 |
| 8 | Van Genechten Biermans 2300 Turnhout | €47.9m | €83.0m | €33.2m | 328.4 | 2025 |
| 9 | VPK Paper 9200 Dendermonde | €162.1m | €222.8m | €99.1m | 292.2 | 2025 |
| 10 | W.H. Brady 9240 Zele | €108.9m | €103.0m | €43.8m | 270.6 | 2025 |
| 11 | Reynders Etiketten 2530 Boechout | €30.7m | €63.4m | €22.5m | 193.5 | 2025 |
| 12 | Etablissements L. Lacroix Fils 2610 Antwerp | €2.71bn | €439.6m | €2.48bn | 190.2 | 2025 |
| 13 | Eurofilters 3900 Pelt | €37.5m | €43.5m | 255,933 € | 187.2 | 2025 |
| 14 | Smurfit Westrock Gent 9030 Ghent | €34.7m | €26.0m | €11.3m | 180.2 | 2025 |
| 15 | Sonoco Consumer Products Mechelen 2800 Mechelen | €53.8m | €84.4m | €33.0m | 173.3 | 2025 |
| 16 | Sofidel Benelux 2570 Duffel | €54.1m | €132.2m | €22.3m | 157.7 | 2025 |
| 17 | Mondi Poperinge 8970 Poperinge | €47.2m | €83.0m | €15.8m | 141.9 | 2025 |
| 18 | Smurfit Westrock Van Mierlo 2300 Turnhout | €16.2m | €33.5m | €8.08m | 140.6 | 2025 |
| 19 | Chiyoda Europa 3600 Genk | €27.9m | €29.9m | €11.9m | 136.3 | 2025 |
| 20 | Reynders Pharmaceutical Labels 2530 Boechout | €28.4m | €42.4m | €15.1m | 130.0 | 2025 |
| 21 | Pacapime 1500 Halle | €40.0m | €56.6m | €26.5m | 125.6 | 2025 |
| 22 | Smart Packaging Solutions 2321 Hoogstraten | €24.0m | €59.7m | €7.19m | 123.6 | 2025 |
| 23 | Soenen Corrugated Production Hooglede 8830 Hooglede | €1.39m | — | 58,415 € | 122.7 | 2025 |
| 24 | Solidus Solutions Belgium 2320 Hoogstraten | €53.7m | €60.8m | €10.9m | 119.8 | 2025 |
| 25 | Walki Belcoat 2570 Duffel | €31.3m | €44.3m | €3.83m | 100.1 | 2025 |
| 26 | Lumipaper 9130 Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht | €13.0m | €17.4m | €9.16m | 96.5 | 2025 |
| 27 | Essity Belgium 1831 Machelen (Brab.) | €108.3m | €151.4m | €20.6m | 87.0 | 2025 |
| 28 | Nissha Metallizing Solutions 3600 Genk | €52.4m | €28.1m | €31.9m | 86.6 | 2025 |
| 29 | Kartonnage Lefevere - Beel 8710 Wielsbeke | €24.3m | €29.1m | €15.1m | 81.6 | 2025 |
| 30 | Accent 8560 Wevelgem | €416.2m | €35.3m | €199.1m | 81.1 | 2025 |
| 31 | Illochroma Haoneng Belgium 3600 Genk | €43.2m | €32.0m | €6.60m | 77.4 | 2024 |
| 32 | VPK Group 9200 Dendermonde | €956.3m | — | €719.4m | 76.0 | 2025 |
| 33 | ACE Packaging 3290 Diest | €38.6m | €55.3m | €30.8m | 70.4 | 2025 |
| 34 | DCP 9420 Erpe-Mere | €11.5m | €13.5m | €1.77m | 63.9 | 2025 |
| 35 | Smurfit Westrock Drogenbos 1620 Drogenbos | €8.79m | €13.4m | €6.31m | 61.0 | 2025 |
| 36 | Van Grasdorff 2890 Puurs-Sint-Amands | €16.2m | €20.5m | €10.8m | 58.7 | 2025 |
| 37 | Soenen Corrugated Production Lanklaar 3650 Dilsen-Stokkem | €1.30m | — | 328,890 € | 58.6 | 2025 |
| 38 | BDMO 8760 Tielt | €5.81m | €10.4m | 669,418 € | 56.6 | 2025 |
| 39 | COREX Belgium 8540 Deerlijk | €8.26m | €17.6m | €3.73m | 54.1 | 2025 |
| 40 | Van de Velde Packaging 8810 Lichtervelde | €12.8m | €13.6m | €8.02m | 52.3 | 2025 |
| 41 | Aurora Productions 2340 Beerse | €10.1m | €13.2m | −€2.05m | 49.4 | 2025 |
| 42 | Bastin & Co 9230 Wetteren | €7.63m | €10.9m | €6.28m | 44.5 | 2025 |
| 43 | Corpack 9120 Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht | €15.5m | €22.0m | €3.11m | 44.3 | 2025 |
| 44 | Label Products 8790 Waregem | €10.4m | €16.5m | €4.36m | 43.9 | 2025 |
| 45 | Desmedt 2880 Bornem | €17.9m | €15.7m | €5.68m | 43.8 | 2025 |
| 46 | Elep-Koverto 3920 Lommel | €5.57m | — | €4.49m | 40.6 | 2025 |
| 47 | LC Packaging Belgium 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver | €11.7m | €44.2m | €4.86m | 38.4 | 2025 |
| 48 | Barias 8800 Roeselare | €18.6m | — | €12.4m | 38.1 | 2025 |
| 49 | P. Van de Velde 9230 Wetteren | €100.8m | €31.4m | −€66.4m | 38.0 | 2025 |
| 50 | Masureel International 8531 Harelbeke | €14.4m | — | €12.1m | 37.8 | 2024 |
Ranking based on each company's own annual accounts (statutory, not consolidated): a subsidiary and its parent appear separately, and the ranking differs from lists based on consolidated group accounts. Headcount reported by the company for all its sites: the jobs may be located elsewhere.
“—”: not published. Small companies (micro and abridged accounts) do not have to publish their revenue.
Manufacture of paper and paper products across Belgium → All sectors · Flanders →
Other sectors · Flanders
- 01 Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities1,948
- 02 Forestry and logging64
- 03 Fishing and aquaculture60
- 08 Other mining and quarrying41
- 10 Manufacture of food products2,131
- 11 Manufacture of beverages152
- 12 Manufacture of tobacco products15
- 13 Manufacture of textiles422
- 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel128
- 15 Manufacture of leather and related products of other materials22
- 16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials497
- 18 Printing and reproduction of recorded media466
- 19 Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products11
- 20 Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products365
- 21 Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations72
- 22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products373
- 23 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products564
- 24 Manufacture of basic metals153
- 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment2,058
- 26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products239
- 27 Manufacture of electrical equipment229
- 28 Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.652
- 29 Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers183
- 30 Manufacture of other transport equipment60
- 31 Manufacture of furniture513
- 32 Other manufacturing416
- 33 Repair, maintenance and installation of machinery and equipment708
- 35 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply108
- 36 Water collection, treatment and supply15
- 37 Sewerage72
- 38 Waste collection, recovery and disposal activities378
- 39 Remediation activities and other waste management service activities40
- 41 Construction of residential and non-residential buildings3,494
- 42 Civil engineering943
- 43 Specialised construction activities10,807
- 46 Wholesale trade10,015
- 47 Retail trade11,712
- 49 Land transport and transport via pipelines3,118
- 50 Water transport118
- 51 Air transport32
- 52 Warehousing, storage and support activities for transportation1,021
- 53 Postal and courier activities175
- 55 Accommodation896
- 56 Food and beverage service activities8,664
- 58 Publishing activities231
- 59 Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities290
- 60 Programming, broadcasting, news agency and other content distribution activities25
- 61 Telecommunication84
- 62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities3,117
- 63 Computing infrastructure, data processing, hosting and other information service activities218
- 64 Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding2,369
- 65 Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security31
- 66 Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities1,957
- 68 Real estate activities2,915
- 69 Legal and accounting activities3,058
- 70 Activities of head offices and management consultancy2,567
- 71 Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis1,838
- 72 Scientific research and development176
- 73 Activities of advertising, market research and public relations813
- 74 Other professional, scientific and technical activities314
- 75 Veterinary activities326
- 77 Rental and leasing activities509
- 78 Employment activities422
- 79 Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities270
- 80 Investigation and security activities78
- 81 Services to buildings and landscape activities1,730
- 82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities776
- 84 Public administration and defence; compulsory social security39
- 85 Education549
- 86 Human health activities3,160
- 87 Residential care activities516
- 88 Social work activities without accommodation763
- 90 Arts creation and performing arts activities306
- 91 Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities57
- 92 Gambling and betting activities56
- 93 Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities854
- 94 Activities of membership organisations282
- 95 Repair and maintenance of computers, personal and household goods, and motor vehicles and motorcycles984
- 96 Personal service activities1,624
Municipalities with the most companies in the sector · Flanders
Frequently asked questions
Which is the largest employer in Manufacture of paper and paper products in Flanders?
Among companies, Ontex, with 578.9 full-time equivalents reported (financial year 2025).
Are all the jobs located in the area?
Not necessarily: headcount is reported by the company for all its sites, and the company is ranked by the address of its registered office. 150 out of 201 companies in the sector report employees there.
Why does this ranking differ from other lists?
It uses each company's annual accounts as filed with the National Bank, not consolidated group accounts. A holding, a subsidiary or a purchasing entity can therefore appear separately. Only companies whose latest accounts are less than 3 years old are ranked.
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Active companies (legal entities) that have filed at least one set of annual accounts, based on the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises and the National Bank of Belgium. The sector is the main activity in the register; the municipality is that of the registered office. Data updated on 14 Nov 2026.