Market evolution: Aircraft parts (CN 8807) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyses the evolution of European Union trade in aircraft and spacecraft parts (Combined Nomenclature code 8807) with non-EU countries over the 2015–2025 period. The sector exhibits strong growth, structural shifts in trade flows, and an improving trade balance. Key dynamics include a rapid expansion in exports, particularly to China, a diversification of supply sources, and a significant reduction in the EU's net import reliance. The analysis is based on annual trade data and identifies the primary factors shaping the market.

The EU's Strengthening Trade Balance and Expanding Market Footprint

The decade saw robust growth in the EU's total trade in CN 8807, with exports outpacing imports and leading to a dramatic improvement in the trade balance. This reflects the sector's increasing competitiveness and its central role in global aerospace value chains.

Consistent Value Growth in Both Exports and Imports

The total value of EU exports of aircraft parts grew by 31.0% between the first and last years in the dataset, from approximately €11.41 billion to €14.95 billion. Import values also rose, but at a slower pace of 20.3%, increasing from about €12.45 billion to €14.98 billion (General Overview). This differential growth fundamentally altered the trade position.

A Dramatic Turnaround from Deficit to Near Balance

The EU's trade balance for this sector moved from a significant deficit to a position of near parity. In the initial period, the EU had a trade deficit of approximately -€1.03 billion. By the end of the period, this deficit had narrowed by 97.1% to just under -€30 million. This near-balancing act indicates a substantial strengthening of the EU's competitive position and its ability to meet both domestic and international demand.

Rising Physical Volumes and Unit Values

The growth in trade value was supported by increases in both the quantity of parts traded and their average unit value (price). Export volumes grew by 20.9% to 38,646 tonnes, while import volumes grew by 17.6% to 48,082 tonnes. Notably, the average price per tonne of EU exports increased by 8.3%, rising to €386,743, while import prices grew more modestly by 2.3% to €311,471 (General Overview). This price differential suggests a shift towards higher-value components in EU exports.

Evolving Trade Partnerships and Shifting Geopolitical Dynamics

The geographic concentration of trade evolved, revealing strategic adjustments in sourcing and sales markets. While traditional partners like the United States and United Kingdom remained dominant, significant growth was recorded with other regions.

Continued Dominance of Traditional Aerospace Hubs

The United States and the United Kingdom are the EU's principal partners for aircraft parts, both as suppliers and customers. Imports from the US grew by 14.7% to €5.84 billion, while those from the UK grew by 22.8% to €5.52 billion. On the export side, the US remained the largest single market, with sales rising 15.0% to €4.33 billion, followed by the UK where exports grew by 34.6% to €2.87 billion (General Overview).

The Rise of Emerging Manufacturing and Sales Markets

Beyond the traditional partners, the most dynamic growth occurred with other nations. Exports to China surged by 46.5% to become a €1.53 billion market, making it the third-largest destination for EU parts. Similarly, exports to Canada and Brazil grew strongly by 37.5% and 34.9%, respectively. On the import side, significant growth was recorded from Türkiye (+44.1%) and Tunisia (+29.7%), highlighting the integration of these countries into EU aerospace supply chains (General Overview).

Decreasing Market Concentration

The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for both imports and exports declined, indicating a diversification of trade flows. The HHI for imports fell by 3.2%, and for exports, it fell more sharply by 12.0% (Market Structure). This suggests the EU is sourcing from and selling to a broader set of countries, potentially reducing geopolitical and supply chain risks.

Internal EU Production Growth and Sectoral Specialisation

Within the EU, production of aircraft parts grew, and specialization patterns confirm the sector's strategic importance to key member states, particularly France and Germany.

Strong Growth in Domestic EU Production

The value of EU production for CN 8807 increased by 34.1% over the period, rising from €28.47 billion to €38.19 billion. This growth rate exceeded that of both export and import values, underpinning the improvement in the trade balance and demonstrating the sector's robust manufacturing base within the bloc (Market Structure).

A Core of Specialised Member States

Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) indices highlight that France (RSCA 0.60) and Germany (RSCA 0.33) are the EU's most specialized producers in this sector. France holds a 31.3% share of total EU production in this segment, while Germany holds 41.8%. Spain and Croatia also show positive specialization, albeit to a lesser degree (Market Structure).

A Clear Dominance of Sub-component 880730

The product segment breakdown reveals that parts of aeroplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aircraft (CN 880730) overwhelmingly dominate both trade and production. This sub-segment accounted for the vast majority of import and export value. In the latest year, it represented 76.9% of total import value and 71.1% of total export value (Product Segment Breakdown).

Conclusion

The EU's market for aircraft and spacecraft parts (CN 8807) demonstrated robust health and strategic evolution between 2015 and 2025. The sector achieved strong value growth, transformed a trade deficit into near balance, and showed increased physical volumes. Trade dynamics were characterized by the continued importance of the US and UK alongside rapid expansion into new markets like China, coupled with a desirable diversification of partners. Domestically, rising production values, led by the specialized industries in France and Germany, fortified the EU's position in the global supply chain. Overall, the data points to a competitive and resilient EU aerospace parts sector that has successfully expanded its global market footprint while reducing its net import dependency.