Market evolution: Brake parts (CN 87083099) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report analyses the evolution of the European Union's trade in brake parts and assemblies classified under Customs Code 87083099 between 2015 and 2025. The product category excludes parts for disc brakes and those destined for the industrial assembly of certain specific motor vehicles. The period under review encompasses significant structural shifts in global automotive supply chains, major geopolitical events, and the United Kingdom's departure from the EU customs union. Based on the provided data, we identify a narrative of a resilient EU production base facing a narrowing trade surplus, changing partnership dynamics, and increasing market concentration for imports.
The Widening Gap: Surplus Erosion Amid Strong Domestic Production
The EU's trade balance for brake parts has deteriorated significantly over the decade, shifting from a strong surplus to a more modest one. This occurred despite substantial growth in domestic production, indicating evolving competitive pressures and supply chain configurations.
A Declining Trade Surplus
The EU maintained a positive trade balance with the rest of the world throughout the period, but its magnitude shrank considerably. The net trade surplus in value terms fell by 62.3%, from €643 million in 2015 to €243 million in 2025. At its peak in 2017, the surplus reached €764 million.
| Metric | 2015 (first) | 2025 (last) | Period Min | Period Max | Change (2015–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports (Value, €bn) | 1.24 | 0.93 | 0.88 (2023) | 1.42 (2018) | -25.5% |
| Imports (Value, €bn) | 0.60 | 0.68 | 0.50 (2015) | 0.76 (2022) | +14.0% |
| Balance (Value, €bn) | 0.64 | 0.24 | 0.24 (2024) | 0.76 (2017) | -62.3% |
Underlying Volume and Price Dynamics
The surplus erosion stems from divergent trends in volumes and prices. Export quantities fell sharply by 38.3% to 110,512 tonnes, their lowest point in the series. Meanwhile, export unit prices rose by 20.9% to €8,385 per tonne. Conversely, import volumes also declined (-16.9% to 168,419 tonnes), but import prices surged even more dramatically (+37.2% to €4,062 per tonne). This suggests a market where both sides faced rising costs or shifted towards higher-value products, but the EU's export volume contracted more severely.
Robust Production Growth
In stark contrast to the external trade performance, EU domestic production of brake parts saw impressive growth. The production quantity increased by 41.6% to over 2.26 billion kg, and its value grew by 56.8% to an estimated €14.1 billion in 2025. This indicates a thriving manufacturing sector that is increasingly serving both domestic and intra-EU assembly needs, even as its extra-EU export footprint diminished.
Shifting Currents: The Reconfiguration of Trade Partnerships
The map of EU trade in this sector was redrawn during the period, notably by Brexit and the rising importance of emerging economies. Traditional partners like the United Kingdom saw a diminished role, while countries such as China and Morocco gained prominence.
The Brexit Effect and the UK's Fading Role
The United Kingdom was the EU's top export partner in 2015, absorbing €371 million worth of brake parts. By 2025, these exports had halved (-51.0%) to €182 million, causing it to fall to the second spot. Similarly, imports from the UK also dropped by 43.8%. This decline is a clear consequence of the UK exiting the EU Single Market and Customs Union, which introduced new trade frictions.
The Ascent of China and Emerging Suppliers
China solidified its position as the EU's dominant source of imports, with its share growing from €180 million (2015) to €310 million (2025), a 71.9% increase. This made it the largest import partner by value. Meanwhile, exports to Morocco grew from a modest €6.5 million to €66.3 million (a 924% increase), highlighting a potential shift in automotive manufacturing and assembly activity towards North Africa. The volatility in trade with partners like Bosnia and Herzegovina (coefficient of variation of 1.75) and Russia underscores the geopolitical instability affecting some supply routes.
Internal EU Leadership and Specialization
Among EU Member States, Germany and Italy remained the largest exporters, though Germany's exports fell by 44.7%. Italy maintained a high level of specialization (RCA of 3.59), indicating a strong comparative advantage in this product. Specialization analysis reveals a core cluster of Eastern European economies (Poland, Hungary, Lithuania) as highly specialized producers within the EU, integrated into the regional automotive value chain.
Market Consolidation and Rising External Dependence
The structure of trade has become more concentrated, particularly on the import side, increasing the EU's strategic dependence on a smaller group of suppliers. This trend occurs alongside a general increase in the bloc's trade openness for this product.
Import Concentration Increases, Export Diversification Improves
The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import concentration rose by 35.8% to 2,530, indicating a shift towards a moderately concentrated market. This was driven by the growing dominance of China. In contrast, export concentration fell by 40.7% to 853, suggesting the EU's export base became more diversified by partner country.
Increased Trade Intensity and Export Propensity
The EU's export propensity—the share of production exported outside the EU—increased by 45.9% to 30.0%. Similarly, trade intensity (imports + exports relative to production) also rose. This heightened integration with global markets occurred while the net import reliance remained negative (confirming the EU is a net exporter), but its absolute value increased, pointing to growing external dependence in relative terms.
Conclusion
Between 2015 and 2025, the EU market for brake parts (CN 87083099) demonstrated a dual narrative. Domestically, production grew robustly, and the sector maintained a trade surplus with the world. However, this surplus narrowed dramatically due to a significant contraction in export volumes and rising import values. The post-Brexit landscape reshaped trade flows, diminishing the UK's role and elevating China's importance as a supplier. Concurrently, trade with emerging economies like Morocco expanded rapidly. These shifts resulted in a more concentrated import base, increasing the EU's vulnerability to supply disruptions from key partners. The data reflects an EU automotive parts industry that remains production-strong but whose external trade profile is undergoing fundamental realignment in the face of geopolitical and competitive pressures.