Market evolution: Airbags and parts (CN 87089599) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyses the trade performance of the European Union in safety airbag systems and parts (Combined Nomenclature code 87089599) over the 2015–2025 period. The data reveals a market characterized by robust import growth outpacing export expansion, leading to a structural erosion of the EU's traditionally strong trade surplus. Concurrently, the EU has undergone a significant geographic diversification of its import sources, while its internal production base has expanded, particularly in newer Member States. The analysis is based on annual trade data provided in EUR and tonnes.

1. Erosion of the EU's Trade Surplus Driven by Divergent Growth Patterns

The EU's net exporter position in airbag systems has weakened considerably over the decade. While both exports and imports grew in value, imports expanded at a much faster rate, significantly narrowing the trade surplus.

1.1. The Widening Gap Between Import and Export Growth

From 2015 to 2025, the total value of EU imports of CN 87089599 surged by 54.5%, rising from €381 million to €589 million. In contrast, exports grew by a more modest 23.2%, from €651 million to €802 million. This divergence is the primary driver behind the decline of the EU's trade surplus, which shrank by 21.2% over the period, from €269 million to €212 million (General Overview).

1.2. Volume Trends: A Shift from Price to Quantity in Imports

The data indicates that the rise in import value was driven by both higher volumes and, to a lesser extent, higher prices. Import volumes increased by 38.0% (from 25,055 tonnes to 34,585 tonnes), while the unit import price grew by 12.0%. For exports, the story was different: the 22.5% increase in export value was almost entirely due to a significant rise in the unit price, as export volumes remained nearly flat (increasing by only 0.6%). This suggests EU exporters have been able to command higher prices, but have struggled to expand shipment volumes.

2. Profound Geographic Diversification of EU Import Sources

The landscape of the EU's suppliers for airbag systems has been reshaped, with emerging economies and certain EU partners gaining significant market share, while traditional partners like the United States and Mexico have seen their roles diminish.

2.1. The Rise of New Key Suppliers

Several countries have dramatically increased their export share to the EU:

• North Macedonia saw the most explosive growth, with exports to the EU increasing by 3,252.4% to reach €81 million in 2025, becoming the third-largest supplier.
• Thailand also experienced massive growth (399.1%), rising to become the largest supplier by value in 2025 at €87 million.
• China maintained its position as the top supplier, with its exports to the EU growing by 52.7% to €104 million.

Conversely, the United States and Mexico saw their exports to the EU collapse by 67.2% and 72.9% respectively over the same period (Top partners by value).

2.2. The Post-Brexit Surge in EU-UK Trade

A notable development is the sharp increase in bilateral trade in this sector following the UK's departure from the EU. The UK's exports to the EU grew by 115.5% to €45 million, while EU exports to the UK surged by 97.6% to €169 million, making the UK the EU's largest export destination by 2025. This suggests the establishment of new, integrated supply chains across the English Channel post-Brexit (Top partners by value).

3. Internal EU Production Growth and Shifting Specialisation

Alongside changing trade patterns, the EU's domestic production of airbag systems has shown notable growth, with a clear shift in specialisation towards Central and Eastern European Member States.

3.1. Robust Growth in Domestic Production

EU production volume (measured in units) increased by 78.5% over the period, outpacing the growth in production value (27.0%). This indicates that unit production costs have decreased, likely due to economies of scale and regionalisation of production. The peak production value was reached in 2021 at €3.47 billion (Production volumes).

3.2. A New Map of Specialisation Within the EU

Analysis of the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) shows a clear trend: newer EU Member States have become highly specialised in the production of these safety components.

• Romania (RSCA: 0.83) and Hungary (RSCA: 0.73) are the most specialised producers within the EU.
• Poland (RSCA: 0.54) also shows strong specialisation.
• In contrast, traditional automotive hubs like Germany show no comparative advantage (RSCA: -0.05), acting more as assemblers and final consumers, while many Western EU states have minimal specialisation (Most specialised reporters).

Conclusion

Over the 2015–2025 period, the EU's market for airbag systems (CN 87089599) has undergone a fundamental transformation. The EU's role has shifted from a strong net exporter to a more balanced trader, with import growth significantly outstripping exports. This import expansion has been facilitated by a dramatic diversification away from North American suppliers towards Asia and new EU neighbours, a trend solidified after major supply chain disruptions. Domestically, the EU production base has grown and specialized, with Romania, Hungary, and Poland emerging as the primary manufacturing hubs, reflecting a deepening of the regional automotive supply chain within the Single Market. These dynamics point to an industry adapting to cost pressures and seeking supply chain resilience through nearshoring and regional integration.