Market evolution: Ceramic ornaments (CN 691390) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report examines the trade dynamics of ceramic statuettes and other ornamental articles, excluding porcelain or china (CN 691390), traded by the European Union with non-EU countries between 2015 and 2025. The period spans a decade marked by geopolitical disruptions, pandemic-related supply chain shocks, and shifting consumer demand. Despite persistent structural challenges, the EU market for ornamental ceramics has expanded significantly in value terms, though trade imbalances have deepened and import dependence on a single supplier — China — has intensified. The analysis is structured around three core findings: the sustained growth in EU imports alongside a widening trade deficit; the concentration of supply risk in Asian origins; and the divergent trajectories of product sub-segments and EU member states.
1. A resilient but increasingly import-dependent market
Total trade volumes expanded substantially over the decade
Between 2015 and 2025, EU imports of CN 691390 rose from €220.8 million to €327.4 million, an increase of 48.3%. Over the same period, EU exports grew from €89.0 million to €133.6 million (+50.2%). In physical terms, import volumes grew more modestly (+16.3%, from 108,828 to 126,518 tonnes), while export volumes rose faster (+42.2%, from 23,605 to 33,572 tonnes). This divergence in value and volume growth points to a significant rise in unit import prices (+27.6%), whereas export prices increased only marginally (+5.6%).
The trade deficit widened, reflecting structural import reliance
The EU's trade deficit in ornamental ceramics grew from €131.8 million in 2015 to €193.8 million in 2025, a deterioration of 47.1%. The deficit was at its narrowest in 2021 (€111.8 million) — likely reflecting pandemic-era disruptions to Asian supply chains — before widening sharply in 2022 (€280.7 million) as imports surged. The net import reliance ratio hovered between 31.9% and 57.8% over the period, ending at 42.0% in 2025.
| Metric | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports (€M) | 220.8 | 288.5 | 252.7 | 394.1 | 327.4 | +48.3% |
| Exports (€M) | 89.0 | 107.0 | 106.0 | 113.5 | 133.6 | +50.2% |
| Trade balance (€M) | −131.8 | −181.5 | −146.7 | −280.7 | −193.8 | −47.1% |
| Net import reliance (%) | 40.6 | 45.9 | 40.9 | 57.8 | 42.0 | +3.5 pp |
Import prices rose faster than export prices, squeezing EU margins
A notable feature of the period is the asymmetric price movement: import unit values climbed by 27.6%, peaking at €3,174/t in 2022, while export prices grew only 5.6%. This suggests that rising input and logistics costs were passed through more effectively by foreign suppliers than by EU exporters, potentially compressing margins for European producers seeking to compete in third-country markets.
2. Deepening dependence on Chinese supply amid shifting partner dynamics
China's dominance intensified throughout the period
China was by far the largest supplier of ornamental ceramics to the EU, accounting for imports of €278.4 million in 2025 — up 66.0% from €167.7 million in 2015. China's share of total imports grew correspondingly, and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import concentration by value rose from 5,939 to 7,309, indicating increasingly concentrated sourcing. China's import flows were also relatively stable (coefficient of variation of 0.15), reflecting its entrenched role rather than opportunistic gains.
| Top EU import partners | 2015 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 167.7 | 278.4 | +66.0% |
| Viet Nam | 27.5 | 23.5 | −14.6% |
| Türkiye | 1.1 | 2.9 | +163.1% |
| Tunisia | 1.3 | 1.4 | +5.3% |
| Thailand | 6.2 | 3.6 | −42.3% |
| United Kingdom | 4.2 | 1.6 | −61.9% |
Alternative Asian suppliers lost ground while Türkiye emerged
Viet Nam, the second-largest supplier, saw imports decline by 14.6%, and Thailand experienced an even steeper drop (−42.3%). Indonesia also contracted (−16.8%). By contrast, Türkiye more than tripled its shipments, growing from €1.1 million to €2.9 million (+163.1%), though its absolute volumes remain modest. The United Kingdom, once a notable source of imports, saw flows collapse by 61.9%, likely a consequence of Brexit-related trade friction and reclassification.
EU export destinations shifted toward the US and UK, away from Russia
On the export side, the United States became the EU's top export destination, with sales rising from €19.1 million to €36.4 million (+90.8%). The United Kingdom, benefiting from post-Brexit regulatory alignment on product standards, grew from €14.7 million to €31.8 million (+116.4%). Conversely, exports to the Russian Federation collapsed by 77.7%, from €3.8 million to just €0.8 million, almost certainly reflecting the impact of EU sanctions following 2022. Canada showed the strongest percentage growth (+209.2%), though from a small base.
| Top EU export destinations | 2015 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 19.1 | 36.4 | +90.8% |
| United Kingdom | 14.7 | 31.8 | +116.4% |
| Switzerland | 13.5 | 16.1 | +18.8% |
| Norway | 11.1 | 7.3 | −34.0% |
| Canada | 1.2 | 3.9 | +209.2% |
| Russian Federation | 3.8 | 0.8 | −77.7% |
EU production grew, but domestic output could not keep pace with demand
EU production of ceramic statuettes and ornamental articles rose from €189.3 million to €226.2 million (+19.5%), yet import volumes grew far more rapidly in absolute terms. The export propensity ratio — the share of EU production exported — fell from 76.1% to 55.1% (−27.6%), suggesting that EU producers increasingly served the domestic market rather than competing abroad, or that high-value-added segments (e.g., design-driven exports) were losing relative ground.
3. Product mix evolution and uneven member-state performance
Sub-segment dynamics reveal a shift toward higher-value ceramic categories
CN 691390 is a bundling heading encompassing three sub-classifications. In imports, the composition shifted notably:
- 69139010 (common pottery): Import volumes fell from 47,388t to 27,188t (−42.6%), while values declined less steeply (€64.4M → €57.6M, −10.4%), reflecting a sharp rise in unit prices (+56.1%).
- 69139093 (earthenware/fine pottery): This became the dominant import category by value, rising from €99.7 million to €151.8 million (+52.2%) with volumes up from 38,144t to 58,556t (+53.5%).
- 69139098 (other ornamental ceramics): The fastest-growing sub-segment, with import values more than doubling from €56.6 million to €117.9 million (+108.1%), though volumes grew more modestly from 23,296t to 40,755t (+74.9%).
On the export side, common pottery remained the largest category by volume, but earthenware/fine pottery overtook it in value terms by 2025 (€42.6M vs. €47.8M for common pottery). Notably, export prices for common pottery (69139010) rose from €2,244/t to €3,065/t (+36.5%), indicating a possible shift toward more artisanal or branded products.
| Import sub-segments | 2015 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69139093 – Earthenware/fine pottery | 99.7 | 151.8 | +52.2% |
| 69139098 – Other ornamental ceramics | 56.6 | 117.9 | +108.1% |
| 69139010 – Common pottery | 64.4 | 57.6 | −10.4% |
Specialisation patterns highlight the dominance of southern and western EU producers
In 2025, Portugal was by far the most specialised EU exporter of ornamental ceramics, with an RCA of 11.0 and an RSCA of 0.83. Denmark ranked second (RCA 4.5), followed by the Netherlands (RCA 1.7) and Austria (RCA 1.6). Among large economies, Italy held a moderate RCA of 1.4, while Germany's RCA was below 1, indicating that its exports were not concentrated in this product relative to its overall trade. At the other extreme, Malta, Ireland, Croatia, and Czechia showed negligible specialisation.
| Most specialised EU exporters (2025) | RCA | RSCA | Prod. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 10.99 | 0.83 | 15.2% |
| Denmark | 4.48 | 0.63 | 7.7% |
| Netherlands | 1.67 | 0.25 | 24.3% |
| Austria | 1.62 | 0.24 | 5.3% |
| Poland | 1.10 | 0.05 | 7.3% |
EU import concentration increased while export concentration remained moderate
The HHI for import concentration by value rose from 5,939 to 7,309 (+23.1%), placing it firmly in a highly concentrated range driven by China's growing share. By contrast, export concentration, while rising from 1,198 to 1,594 (+33.0%), remained moderate, reflecting a more diversified destination base. The volume-based HHI for imports increased even more sharply (+51.1%), reinforcing the physical dependence on a narrow set of suppliers.
Among EU member states, the Netherlands emerged as the largest importer by 2025 (€83.7M, +68.2%), overtaking Germany (€60.2M, +4.7%). Poland showed the most dramatic growth in imports (+257.6%), rising from €7.7 million to €27.6 million. On the export side, Portugal more than doubled its outward shipments (€12.2M → €24.5M, +101.6%), while Denmark contracted (−33.6%), possibly reflecting a shift in production strategy or sourcing.
Conclusion
The EU market for ceramic statuettes and ornamental articles (CN 691390) grew substantially between 2015 and 2025, but this growth was accompanied by deepening structural vulnerabilities. The trade deficit widened by nearly half, driven by import volumes that consistently outpaced domestic production growth. China's dominant position intensified, with its share of imports rising and the HHI reaching 7,309 — a level that implies significant supply concentration risk. While EU exports also expanded, particularly to the US and UK, the bloc's export propensity declined markedly, suggesting a retreat from global competitiveness in this category.
Product-level shifts reveal a move away from common pottery imports toward earthenware and other ornamental ceramics, both of which command higher unit values and may reflect evolving consumer preferences toward design-led products. At the member-state level, the landscape is uneven: Portugal and Denmark show strong specialisation, while central and eastern European economies remain import-oriented with limited export capacity. Going forward, the EU's reliance on Chinese supply, the lingering effects of post-pandemic logistics restructuring, and geopolitical tensions will continue to shape this market's trajectory.