Market evolution: Cast iron articles (CN 7325) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the EU's trade performance for articles of iron or steel, cast, n.e.s. (CN 7325) between 2015 and 2025. The analysis reveals a market undergoing significant structural change, characterized by a growing trade deficit driven by import growth, substantial price inflation across the sector, and a reorientation of key trade relationships. While EU production has shifted towards higher value, its export capacity has diminished, leading to increased reliance on international suppliers.

1. A Widening Deficit Fueled by Import Growth and Price Inflation

The period under review saw the EU's trade deficit for CN 7325 expand dramatically, primarily due to robust import growth coupled with stagnant exports, all within a context of rising global prices.

Import volumes and values surged while exports contracted

Between 2015 and 2025, the value of EU imports from non-EU countries increased by 40.8%, rising from €842 million to €1.186 billion, with quantities growing by 24.9% (General Overview). In stark contrast, the value of EU exports decreased by 2.1%, falling from €526 million to €515 million. This divergence was even more pronounced in terms of volume: export quantities plummeted by 39.4%, from 201,705 tonnes to 122,194 tonnes. Consequently, the EU's trade deficit worsened by 112.0%, reaching a value of -€671 million in 2025.

Average export prices increased significantly more than import prices

Price trends have been a defining feature of this market. The average unit price for EU exports rose by 61.5% over the decade, from €2,607 per tonne to €4,210 per tonne. Import prices also increased, but by a smaller margin of 12.7%, from €1,811 to €2,042 per tonne (General Overview). This divergence suggests EU producers faced higher cost pressures or shifted to more specialized, higher-value products, while import competition remained relatively price-competitive. A notable price shock occurred in 2022 for imports from India and Türkiye, where abnormal price increases of 33.6% and 33.0% respectively were detected (Volatility & Shocks).

2. Shifting Trade Partnerships and Increased Market Concentration

The EU's import and export relationships for CN 7325 have evolved, with Asian suppliers gaining ground and the bloc's export market becoming slightly more concentrated on its nearest neighbours.

Asian suppliers strengthened their position as primary import sources

China remained the largest single supplier to the EU, with import values growing by 23.7% to €440 million in 2025. However, the most dynamic growth came from India and Thailand. Imports from India nearly doubled, increasing by 96.9% to €249 million, while imports from Thailand surged by an extraordinary 1123.7% to €26 million (General Overview). Türkiye also grew significantly (+75.7%). This diversification is reflected in a slight decrease in the import concentration Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for value, from 2,324 to 2,117 (Market Structure).

EU export markets displayed stability with regional shifts

The United Kingdom and Switzerland consistently remained the EU's top two export destinations, accounting for €99 million and €87 million respectively in 2025. While exports to the UK declined by 9.8%, those to Switzerland grew by 12.7%. Notably, exports to Serbia grew by 311.1% to become the seventh-largest market, while exports to Algeria collapsed by 92.8% (General Overview). The export HHI for value increased marginally (from 1,025 to 1,063), indicating a slight consolidation towards established partners.

3. Internal EU Production Restructuring and Uneven Member State Capacities

Behind the headline trade figures, the EU's domestic production and the specialisation of its member states reveal a complex picture of value migration and structural divergence.

EU production shifted towards higher value despite lower volumes

EU production data shows a clear trend: while the quantity produced decreased by 7.5% (from 710 million kg to 657 million kg), the production value increased by 70.6% (from €1.03 billion to €1.75 billion) (Market Structure). This indicates a strategic shift within the EU towards manufacturing higher-value-added cast articles, likely in more specialized or technologically advanced segments.

Member states exhibit highly divergent specialisation patterns

The Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) in 2025 highlights a stark divide. Denmark (RSCA: 0.523), Spain (0.468), and Czechia (0.446) were the most specialised producers and exporters of CN 7325 products within the EU (Market Structure). Conversely, countries like Malta (RSCA: -0.999), Cyprus (-0.996), and Greece (-0.909) showed no comparative advantage and were almost entirely reliant on imports. This internal asymmetry underscores that the bloc's growing import reliance is not uniform, with core manufacturing nations retaining competitiveness while others depend on external supply.

The "other cast articles" sub-category dominated and drove trade dynamics

The product breakdown reveals that CN 732599 (other cast articles, excl. non-malleable cast iron and grinding balls) is the dominant sub-category, accounting for the majority of both imports and exports by value in 2025 (€791m imports, €337m exports) (Product Segment Breakdown). Notably, export prices for this segment (€4,954/t) were more than double the import prices (€2,341/t), reinforcing the observed trend of the EU moving into higher-priced niches. Meanwhile, imports of non-malleable cast iron articles (CN 732510) remained substantial in volume but grew less in value.

Conclusion

The EU market for cast iron articles (CN 7325) between 2015 and 2025 has been characterized by a fundamental rebalancing. The bloc has transitioned from a more competitive position to one of increasing net import reliance, with its import dependency ratio rising from 4.5% to 28.0% (Autonomy & Vulnerability). This shift is driven by sustained demand met by growing, price-competitive imports, particularly from Asia, alongside a contraction in export volumes.

Simultaneously, the EU's domestic industry has restructured, reducing physical output but increasing the value of production, a strategy reflected in significantly higher export unit values. The market is thus bifurcating: the EU is importing more basic or volume-driven cast articles while specializing in and exporting more valuable, specialized products. Future dynamics will likely depend on global price trends, the sustainability of this specialization model, and the ability of EU producers to maintain their foothold in higher-margin segments amidst persistent import pressure.