Market evolution: Breathing appliances and gas masks (CN 9020) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the trade evolution of the European Union in breathing appliances and gas masks (Combined Nomenclature code 9020) between 2015 and 2025. The analysis focuses on identifying and explaining the key dynamics in trade value, volume, pricing, partner relationships, and market structure based on the provided data. The period encompasses the pre-pandemic years, the significant shock of the COVID-19 crisis, and the subsequent recovery, offering a clear lens into the market's response to global health and geopolitical events.

1. Growth Driven by Price, Not Volume: The Premiumization Trend

The EU's trade in CN 9020 products shows a clear divergence between value and physical volume, indicating a market-wide shift towards higher-value items.

EU exports grew significantly in value despite stable volumes.

Over the period, the total value of EU exports increased by 87.3%, from €242.8 million in the first period to €454.8 million in the last. In contrast, the physical quantity exported decreased slightly by 3.3%, from 3,191 tonnes to 3,084 tonnes. This implies that the growth was not driven by selling more items, but by selling more expensive items, with the average export price per tonne rising by 93.6% from €76,075 to €147,287 (Overview).

A similar premiumization trend is visible in EU imports.

Import value grew by 39.2%, from €204.9 million to €285.2 million, while import volumes fell by 37.5%. The average import price per tonne more than doubled (+122.8%), reaching €109,225. This suggests that both what the EU exports and what it imports have shifted towards more sophisticated, higher-margin breathing appliances and gas masks.

The EU is a structural net exporter in this market.

The EU consistently maintained a positive trade balance throughout the period, except for a dip in 2020. The balance surged from €37.9 million in the first year to a peak of €169.6 million in the last year, a 348% increase. This strengthening net-exporter status, achieved through rising unit values rather than volume expansion, points to a competitive advantage in higher-end segments of the market (Overview).

2. Shifting Geographies: Partners and Internal Drivers

The pattern of trade with key partners evolved, reflecting both geopolitical shifts and the specialization of EU member states.

The United Kingdom and the United States remain the top export destinations.

The UK and the US are the two largest markets for EU exports, absorbing a combined value of €154.2 million in 2025. Exports to the UK grew by 106.0% and to the US by 78.0% over the period. However, the most striking growth occurred in exports to the United Arab Emirates (+218.8%) and Australia (+146.1%), indicating a diversification of export markets beyond traditional partners (Top Partners).

China's role in EU imports evolved from minor to significant.

While the UK was the dominant source of imports (though its share fell from 66% to 41% of total imports by value), China's import share grew dramatically. The value of imports from China increased by 239.5% to €16.1 million, and its import share rose. Conversely, the US solidified its position as a major supplier, with imports growing by 115.5% to €109.4 million. This indicates a diversification of the EU's import sources, with China becoming a more relevant player (Top Partners).

Germany is the central hub within the EU for this trade.

German exports of CN 9020 products grew by 65.1% to €176.1 million, accounting for nearly half (47.9%) of total EU production value in the sector. Similarly, German imports reached €123.2 million. Other member states like France, Denmark, and Poland also exhibited strong growth, but Germany's scale underscores its role as the production and trade engine for these goods within the bloc (Reporters).

3. Resilience and Vulnerability: Shocks and Self-Sufficiency

The market experienced significant price volatility, particularly around the 2020 pandemic shock, yet the EU's structural position shows resilience.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered major price shocks in 2020.

The data detects abnormal price shifts in 2020-2021, consistent with pandemic-driven demand surges and supply chain stress. For instance, the price of exports to the UK spiked by 94.4% in 2021, and import prices from China surged by 197.9% in 2020. This period highlights the acute sensitivity of this market to global health emergencies (Supply Shocks).

Trade concentration with partners has decreased over time.

The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import partners fell by 36.3% from 5041 to 3210, indicating reduced concentration and a more diversified import base. Export concentration remained lower and more stable (HHI ~800). This diversification in imports suggests a strategic effort to mitigate supply risks from over-reliance on a single partner (Concentration).

The EU maintains a strong degree of autonomy in this sector.

The net import reliance (a measure of vulnerability) was consistently negative, meaning the EU is a net exporter. It improved from -55.8% to -44.3%, strengthening the EU's net-exporter position. Trade intensity, measuring the importance of trade relative to domestic production, remained high but declined slightly from 92.0% to 87.3%. This combination indicates a highly integrated but ultimately self-sufficient industry with a strong export orientation (Vulnerability).

Conclusion

Between 2015 and 2025, the EU's trade in breathing appliances and gas masks underwent a structural transformation characterized by premiumization rather than volume growth. This is evident in the near-doubling of average unit values for both exports and imports, driving a substantial increase in the EU's positive trade balance. Geographically, trade patterns shifted, with traditional partners like the UK and US remaining dominant in exports but new markets gaining prominence, while China emerged as a more significant import source.

The period also demonstrated the market's volatility, with the 2020 pandemic causing severe price shocks. However, the EU's underlying structure proved resilient: it diversified its import sources, reduced trade concentration, and maintained a strong net-exporter position with high trade intensity. These factors collectively suggest an industry that is both globally integrated and fundamentally competitive, adapting its output towards higher-value products while managing supply chain risks.