Market evolution: Blankets and travelling rugs (CN 6301) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyzes the trade evolution of blankets and travelling rugs (Customs Code 6301) for the European Union with non-EU countries between 2015 and 2025. The data reveals a market characterized by a significant structural shift towards import dependency, notable price volatility, and concentrated yet diversifying supply chains. Over the period, the EU's trade deficit in this sector widened substantially, driven by robust import growth that outpaced the increase in export values.

1. The Widening Trade Gap: Surging Imports vs. Moderate Export Growth

The EU's trade in blankets and travelling rugs is defined by a persistent and growing deficit, indicating a structural reliance on external suppliers to meet domestic demand.

Imports grew faster in value and volume than exports. Between 2015 and 2025, the value of EU imports increased by 24.8% (from €433.5 million to €541.0 million), while export values grew by 54.7% (from €103.3 million to €159.8 million). However, the import base is substantially larger. The trade deficit expanded from €330.2 million in 2015 to €381.3 million in 2025, having peaked at €518.6 million in 2022. View the general trade overview.

Volume trends confirm the import surge. Import quantity (in tonnes) rose by 31.0%, from 96,730 tonnes to 126,726 tonnes. In contrast, export quantity grew by a modest 9.8%, from 7,949 tonnes to 8,729 tonnes. This disparity is even starker when looking at supplementary unit counts (number of items), where imports grew by 29.5% and exports by 22.9%. View the general trade overview.

Net import reliance increased dramatically. The EU's net import reliance, a key indicator of vulnerability, soared from 2.6% in 2015 to 64.1% in 2025, underscoring the sector's dependence on extra-EU trade. View the net import reliance data.

2. Shifting Partners: China's Dominance and Emerging Suppliers

The landscape of EU suppliers is highly concentrated but shows signs of gradual diversification, while export destinations are more varied but subject to significant volatility.

China is the overwhelmingly dominant supplier to the EU. In 2025, China accounted for €430.2 million of EU imports, representing about 80% of the total. While its share has fluctuated, it has consistently remained the primary source. India and Türkiye are distant second and third suppliers, with €33.1 million and €14.9 million in trade value respectively in 2025. View the top import partners.

Several smaller suppliers have shown strong growth. While the top three remain stable, imports from Pakistan (+148.1%) and Egypt (+927.1%) grew dramatically from 2015 to 2025, indicating a search for alternative sources, albeit from a low base. In contrast, imports from Thailand collapsed by 78.0% over the same period. View the top import partners.

EU exports are geographically diversified but volatile. The United States became the largest non-EU export market by value in 2025 (€48.5 million), surpassing the United Kingdom (€17.5 million). Exports to the US grew by 188.2% over the period. However, trade with other partners like Saudi Arabia (-73.0%) and the United Kingdom (-14.3%) declined. Notably, exports to Ukraine (+324.9%) and Serbia (+225.0%) saw exceptional growth. View the top export partners.

3. Price Shocks, Volatility, and the 2021-2022 Disruption

The period was marked by significant price volatility, with a pronounced shock centered on 2022 that disrupted import volumes and prices.

Volatility varies significantly by partner. Among EU import sources, Egypt and Thailand exhibited the highest price volatility (coefficient of variation). For EU exports, shipments to Ukraine and Saudi Arabia were the most volatile. View the volatility data.

The 2021-2022 period saw a major supply-price shock. The most significant detected shock was a price spike in imports from China in 2022 (abnormality score: 36.1). This coincided with a peak in import unit prices and the highest annual trade deficit. While import value from China peaked at €572.0 million in 2021, it then corrected. This period likely reflects global supply chain disruptions, increased logistics costs, and commodity price inflation in the aftermath of the pandemic. View the top shock events.

Unit prices have stabilized after the peak. For imports, the average price per tonne (primary unit) peaked in 2022 at €5,276.9/t (for synthetic fibre blankets, 630140) and at €33,174.9/t (for wool blankets, 630120), before falling back by 2025. Export prices, particularly for high-value wool blankets (630120), rose dramatically—from €36,390/t in 2015 to €104,988/t in 2025—suggesting a shift in the EU's export profile towards premium products. View the product segment breakdown.

Conclusion

The EU market for blankets and travelling rugs (CN 6301) over 2015-2025 is characterized by a deepening reliance on imports, primarily from China, which has driven a growing trade deficit. The market experienced a significant disruption in 2021-2022, marked by acute price shocks and volatility, likely linked to post-pandemic global supply chain issues. While import sources show some diversification among smaller suppliers, export destinations are more fluid, with strong growth in specific markets like the US. EU exports themselves have moved towards higher-value segments, particularly in wool products. The data points to a sector integrated into global trade flows, sensitive to external shocks, and with a structural imbalance favoring imports.