Market evolution: Amusement park rides (CN 9508) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report examines the evolution of EU external trade in products classified under Combined Nomenclature code 9508, covering travelling circuses, amusement park rides, water park amusements, fairground amusements, and travelling theatres. The analysis spans from 2015 to 2025 and draws on trade flows between the European Union and non-EU countries, as well as production data and market structure indicators. Over this period, the EU has consolidated its position as a major net exporter in this niche but high-value entertainment equipment sector, with total export values nearly doubling and the trade surplus widening from €329 million to €575 million. However, the period was not without turbulence: the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting geographies of amusement-park investment, and rising import volatility all left their mark. The report is structured around three main findings that together paint a picture of a resilient, upgrading, and diversifying European industry.
General Overview on the Trade Dashboard
1. The EU's strong and growing export surplus reflects a structural competitive advantage
1.1. Exports have grown far more rapidly than imports in both value and price terms
The EU's trade balance in CN 9508 products has been consistently and strongly positive throughout the entire period. Between 2015 and 2025, exports rose from approximately €400 million to €721 million — an increase of 80.0% — while imports grew from €72 million to €146 million (+103.2%). Although import growth was faster in percentage terms, the absolute gap widened substantially: the trade surplus expanded from €329 million to €575 million (+74.9%).
A critical distinction emerges when examining quantity versus price. Export quantities grew only 13.1% (from 30,327 tonnes to 34,307 tonnes), but export unit values surged 59.1% (from €13,205/t to €21,010/t). By contrast, import quantities more than doubled (+131.2%, from 6,270t to 14,498t) while import prices actually declined 12.1% (from €11,452/t to €10,063/t).
| Indicator | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exports (value, €M) | 400.5 | 720.8 | +80.0% |
| Exports (quantity, t) | 30,327 | 34,307 | +13.1% |
| Exports (price, €/t) | 13,205 | 21,010 | +59.1% |
| Imports (value, €M) | 71.8 | 145.9 | +103.2% |
| Imports (quantity, t) | 6,270 | 14,498 | +131.2% |
| Imports (price, €/t) | 11,452 | 10,063 | −12.1% |
| Balance (€M) | 328.7 | 574.9 | +74.9% |
This pattern — rising export unit values with stable volumes alongside rising import volumes with flat or declining prices — points to a qualitative upgrading of the EU's export basket. European manufacturers are selling increasingly sophisticated, high-ticket equipment to global markets while importing more commoditised or standardised rides.
1.2. Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands anchor the EU's export performance
The EU's production value for CN 9508 grew from approximately €271 million to €540 million over the period (+99.4%), nearly doubling. The market specialisation data reveals that Italy, Slovakia, and Poland are the most specialised EU producers in this sector, with Italy holding the highest Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) score of 0.499 and contributing nearly 24% of EU production value.
Among EU Member States, the largest exporters by value in 2025 were:
| Rank | Member State | 2025 Exports (€M) | Change vs 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 218.8 | +28.2% |
| 2 | Netherlands | 172.2 | +214.7% |
| 3 | Germany | 107.0 | +22.0% |
| 4 | Slovakia | 44.0 | +128.0% |
| 5 | France | 35.8 | +152.3% |
Italy's dominance reflects its long-established amusement-ride manufacturing cluster (notably in areas like Bologna and the Veneto region). The Netherlands' remarkable +214.7% growth suggests that Dutch companies — many of which specialise in high-end themed attractions and dark rides — have capitalised on the global boom in immersive entertainment. Slovakia's strong showing aligns with its broader role as a manufacturing base for European industrial groups.
1.3. The EU's net export position has deepened, confirming low import vulnerability
The net import reliance indicator stood at −105.4% in 2015 and fell to −1,421.6% in 2025. (Negative values denote net export status; the deepening reflects the growing trade surplus relative to domestic production.) Meanwhile, export propensity — the ratio of exports to production — rose from 63.2% to 133.1%, meaning that the EU now exports more than it produces domestically in this category (suggesting re-export activity or inventory effects). Trade intensity also nearly doubled, from 67.1% to 125.4%. These figures confirm that the EU is not only self-sufficient but a dominant global supplier of amusement-park equipment.
2. Geographic diversification masks significant concentration risks in key bilateral relationships
2.1. The United States has become the EU's dominant export market, while Middle Eastern demand has surged
The geographic composition of EU exports has shifted markedly. The United States, already the top destination in 2015 with €77 million in purchases, grew to €259 million in 2025 — a +237.4% increase. The US alone now absorbs roughly 36% of all EU exports of CN 9508 products. This likely reflects massive investment in US theme parks (including expansions by major operators) and the strong dollar making European equipment more expensive in local terms but still attractive for its quality.
| Destination | 2015 Exports (€M) | 2025 Exports (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 76.8 | 259.2 | +237.4% |
| China | 65.3 | 32.0 | −51.0% |
| United Kingdom | 19.4 | 54.0 | +179.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | 53.8 | 44.3 | −17.7% |
| Saudi Arabia | 11.6 | 40.4 | +248.4% |
| Mexico | 2.5 | 27.5 | +1,010.7% |
| Vietnam | 13.2 | 16.5 | +25.0% |
The most dramatic growth stories involve Saudi Arabia (+248.4%) and Mexico (+1,010.7%), both driven by large-scale entertainment infrastructure projects aligned with national diversification strategies (Saudi Vision 2030 and Mexico's growing middle-class leisure market). The EU's export concentration HHI rose from 932 to 1,531, reflecting increasing reliance on a smaller number of large buyers — particularly the United States. This concentration introduces vulnerability: a slowdown in US theme-park investment or a shift in procurement strategies could disproportionately affect EU exporters.
2.2. Import sources have diversified, with Türkiye emerging as a major supplier
On the import side, the landscape has changed considerably. The United States was the largest import source in 2015 (€22 million) and remained so in 2025 (€22 million, essentially flat). However, Türkiye surged from €3 million to €33 million (+970.9%), becoming the single largest import source by 2025. China also grew substantially (€11 million → €32 million, +188.9%), while the United Kingdom nearly quintupled from €4 million to €17 million.
| Source | 2015 Imports (€M) | 2025 Imports (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | 3.1 | 33.4 | +970.9% |
| China | 11.2 | 32.4 | +188.9% |
| United States | 21.8 | 22.2 | +1.7% |
| United Kingdom | 4.0 | 17.1 | +326.6% |
| Canada | 4.1 | 12.7 | +210.1% |
| Switzerland | 19.5 | 13.3 | −31.6% |
The import-side HHI fell from 2,001 to 1,562, indicating a meaningful diversification away from a historically concentrated supply base. The rise of Türkiye is particularly noteworthy: Turkish manufacturers have gained competitiveness in mid-range amusement equipment, benefiting from geographic proximity to the EU, lower labour costs, and an established metalworking and machinery sector. This mirrors a broader trend of Türkiye becoming a key supplier in EU capital-goods markets.
2.3. Price volatility is concentrated in specific bilateral corridors, creating targeted risk
The volatility analysis reveals that trade flows with several partners are highly unstable. The coefficient of variation (CV) for imports from North Macedonia is 0.92, from Canada 0.73, and from Türkiye 0.69. On the export side, flows to Saudi Arabia (CV 1.03) and South Korea (CV 1.15) are the most volatile.
The detected supply shocks include:
- Canada (imports, 2023): A price shock with a 145% shift and an abnormality score of 23.2 — the most extreme event detected.
- Mexico (exports, 2023): A price shock with a 65.9% shift.
- North Macedonia (imports, 2022): A 64.5% price shift, coinciding with the near-total collapse of imports from this origin (−95.8% in value).
These shocks reflect the project-based nature of the industry: a single large ride installation can cause massive year-on-year fluctuations in bilateral trade figures, making this sector inherently more volatile than most manufactured-goods categories.
3. Roller coasters and water attractions dominate a structurally segmented product mix
3.1. Roller coasters are the highest-value export segment, while water park amusements show the fastest import growth
The product segment breakdown reveals a highly differentiated market. Detailed sub-product data are available from 2022 onwards. In 2025, the export value breakdown by sub-product was:
| Sub-product (CN code) | 2025 Exports (€M) | 2022–2025 Change |
|---|---|---|
| Roller coasters (950821) | 274.7 | +64.2% |
| Other amusement park rides (950829) | 124.6 | +54.3% |
| Carousels, swings & roundabouts (950822) | 147.4 | +82.2% |
| Fairground amusements (950830) | 49.4 | +16.8% |
| Travelling theatres (950840) | 33.9 | +141.2% |
| Water park amusements (950826) | 15.2 | +237.0% |
| Travelling circuses (950810) | 9.2 | +667.6%* |
*Travelling circuses exports grew from a very low 2020 base (€1.0M), so percentage changes are exaggerated.
Roller coasters alone account for 38% of EU export value, commanding premium unit prices (€26,851/t in 2025 — the highest of any sub-product). European roller-coaster manufacturers (concentrated in Italy, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands) are globally dominant in the high-thrill, technologically advanced segment.
3.2. Import growth is concentrated in amusement park rides and water attractions, reflecting demand-side shifts
On the import side, the fastest-growing categories by value between 2022 and 2025 were:
| Sub-product (CN code) | 2025 Imports (€M) | 2022–2025 Change |
|---|---|---|
| Water park amusements (950826) | 39.2 | +403.3% |
| Roller coasters (950821) | 19.5 | +71.7% |
| Other amusement park rides (950829) | 39.5 | +41.0% |
| Travelling theatres (950840) | 10.9 | +125.4% |
| Carousels, swings & roundabouts (950822) | 11.0 | +61.1% |
| Fairground amusements (950830) | 10.3 | +45.3% |
| Travelling circuses (950810) | 1.3 | −69.9% |
Water park amusements stand out with a +403.3% import surge (from €7.8M to €39.2M), reflecting the EU's booming water-park sector, driven by indoor water-park expansion in Northern Europe and Southern European resort renovations. The fact that the EU imports such equipment at scale while also exporting it suggests a segmentation of the market: imports may target mid-range installations (e.g., from Turkish or Chinese suppliers), while exports serve premium, bespoke projects abroad.
3.3. Price differentials between segments confirm the EU's position at the top of the value chain
Unit prices reveal the technology and value ladder within CN 9508. In 2025, export prices ranged from €8,315/t for travelling circuses to €28,431/t for carousels and roundabouts (which include complex, artistically crafted installations). Import prices are systematically lower across most categories, reinforcing the interpretation that the EU imports lower-cost, standardised equipment and exports bespoke, high-specification attractions.
| Sub-product | Export price 2025 (€/t) | Import price 2025 (€/t) | Ratio (exp/imp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carousels, swings & roundabouts | 28,431 | 5,334 | 5.3× |
| Roller coasters | 26,851 | 15,677 | 1.7× |
| Water park amusements | 13,082 | 18,032 | 0.7× |
| Other amusement park rides | 15,098 | 8,177 | 1.8× |
| Travelling theatres | 17,544 | 7,829 | 2.2× |
| Fairground amusements | 11,260 | 5,126 | 2.2× |
The one exception is water park amusements, where import prices (€18,032/t) actually exceed export prices (€13,082/t). This anomaly may reflect imports of large, complex water-park systems from specialised US or Asian manufacturers, while EU exports in this category may be smaller-scale or component-based.
Conclusion
The EU's trade in CN 9508 products over 2015–2025 tells a story of sustained export strength, market upgrading, and geographic reorientation. The European industry has nearly doubled its export value while improving unit prices by 59%, confirming a structural move toward higher-value, technology-intensive attractions — above all, roller coasters and themed rides. The trade surplus widened to €575 million, underpinning the EU's role as the world's leading supplier of premium amusement equipment.
At the same time, the import side reveals a fast-growing but price-competitive inflow, particularly from Türkiye and China, serving the expanding mid-range and water-park segments of the European market. The sector's inherent project-based volatility — evidenced by extreme bilateral price shocks — means that year-on-year figures should be interpreted cautiously. Looking ahead, the concentration of EU exports on the US market (now 36% of the total) and the growing share of Saudi Arabia and Mexico represent both an opportunity (aligned with global entertainment-investment booms) and a risk (dependency on a handful of mega-projects and geopolitical cycles). The EU's ability to maintain its premium positioning while managing supply-chain diversification will determine whether this decade of strong performance extends into the next.