Market evolution: Chromatography and electrophoresis (CN 902720) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report examines the evolution of EU trade in chromatographs and electrophoresis instruments (Combined Nomenclature code 902720) over the period 2015–2025. The analysis draws on Eurostat data covering EU extra-EU trade flows, production volumes, and market structure indicators. Chromatography and electrophoresis instruments are critical analytical tools used across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental testing, food safety, and chemical research. The EU is a major global producer and exporter of such high-value laboratory equipment, hosting leading manufacturers across several Member States. Over the decade under review, the EU's trade position in this product category strengthened considerably, characterised by rising export values, a widening trade surplus, and an increasingly outward-oriented industry. At the same time, notable shifts in partner geography, rising unit prices, and emerging supply-chain vulnerabilities provide a nuanced picture of a market undergoing structural transformation.
1. A widening surplus driven by value rather than volume
EU exports grew in value while volumes remained broadly flat
Between the first and last year of the data window, EU exports of chromatographs and electrophoresis instruments rose from €422.0 million to €522.1 million, an increase of +23.7%. Over the same period, exported quantities in tonnes barely changed — from 1,538.9 t to 1,553.6 t (+1.0%). This divergence between value and volume is explained by a steady rise in export unit prices, which climbed from €274,087/t to €335,983/t (+22.6%). The pattern suggests that EU manufacturers increasingly shipped higher-specification, higher-value instruments over the decade.
| Indicator | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export value (€) | 422,018,295 | 522,100,105 | +23.7% |
| Export quantity (t) | 1,538.9 | 1,553.6 | +1.0% |
| Export unit price (€/t) | 274,087 | 335,983 | +22.6% |
Note that export value peaked at €707.3 million in an intermediate year, indicating considerable year-to-year variation around the upward trend.
Import values edged up while volumes contracted
EU imports followed a different trajectory. Import value increased modestly from €248.4 million to €264.1 million (+6.3%), but imported volumes actually fell from 1,073.3 t to 950.0 t (−11.5%). Like exports, import unit prices rose — from €231,364/t to €277,979/t (+20.1%) — reflecting the broader global shift towards more expensive, advanced instruments. The combination of rising import prices with declining volumes may indicate either domestic substitution, a shift in product mix, or sourcing changes.
| Indicator | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import value (€) | 248,400,253 | 264,105,664 | +6.3% |
| Import quantity (t) | 1,073.3 | 950.0 | −11.5% |
| Import unit price (€/t) | 231,364 | 277,979 | +20.1% |
The EU trade surplus nearly doubled
Because export growth outpaced import growth, the EU's trade surplus in this category widened substantially — from €173.6 million in 2015 to €258.0 million in 2025, a gain of +48.6%. The surplus reached a peak of €421.4 million in an intermediate year. This confirms the EU's position as a structural net exporter of analytical instrumentation, a position that has strengthened over the decade.
2. Shifting geographical patterns in EU trade partnerships
The United States and China remain dominant partners for both imports and exports
The United States and China are the two largest extra-EU partners for chromatography and electrophoresis instruments, on both the import and export sides.
On the import side, the US remained the top supplier throughout the period (from €102.1 million to €96.3 million, −5.7%), while China grew from €57.5 million to €65.6 million (+14.1%) and narrowed the gap. On the export side, the US was again the top destination (from €103.4 million to €123.7 million, +19.5%), and China grew even more rapidly (from €42.8 million to €75.5 million, +76.6%).
| Partner | Import 2015 (€) | Import 2025 (€) | Δ | Export 2015 (€) | Export 2025 (€) | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 102,091,926 | 96,265,588 | −5.7% | 103,447,378 | 123,670,444 | +19.5% |
| China | 57,522,126 | 65,646,339 | +14.1% | 42,754,180 | 75,509,297 | +76.6% |
| Japan | 21,606,090 | 28,951,131 | +34.0% | — | — | — |
| Singapore | 24,182,842 | 23,532,442 | −2.7% | 9,755,602 | 46,782,122 | +379.5% |
The United Kingdom's role diminished — a likely Brexit effect
UK imports into the EU declined from €20.4 million to €13.0 million (−36.0%) over the decade, making it the only top-seven import partner to register a double-digit percentage drop. Meanwhile, UK-bound exports from the EU remained relatively resilient, growing from €31.6 million to €36.3 million (+14.9%). The decline in UK-to-EU flows is consistent with the regulatory and customs barriers introduced by Brexit after January 2021.
Hong Kong's collapse in exports and Singapore's surge are the most dramatic shifts
The most striking single-partner development was the near-total collapse of EU exports to Hong Kong, which fell from €56.7 million in 2015 to just €6.1 million in 2025 (−89.3%). This decline was almost entirely offset by a surge in exports to Singapore, which grew from €9.8 million to €46.8 million (+379.5%). One plausible explanation is the rerouting of trade flows through Singapore as a regional hub — possibly reflecting changes in regional distribution strategies, stricter Hong Kong trade conditions, or supply-chain reconfiguration in the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Switzerland and Japan emerged as growing import sources
Among import partners, Switzerland registered the highest growth rate among top suppliers, rising from €11.8 million to €20.1 million (+70.9%). Japan also grew substantially, from €21.6 million to €29.0 million (+34.0%). These increases likely reflect the strong presence of Swiss- and Japanese-headquartered analytical instrument manufacturers (notably in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors) that maintain production or assembly in their home countries.
Import concentration decreased while export markets remained diversified
The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for imports by value fell from 2,495 to 2,242 (−10.1%), indicating that the EU diversified its sourcing of chromatography instruments away from heavy reliance on a small number of suppliers. The export HHI remained much lower (1,052 → 1,012, −3.8%), confirming that EU exporters already served a wide range of destination markets and maintained that breadth.
| Concentration (HHI) | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imports (by value) | 2,495 | 2,242 | −10.1% |
| Exports (by value) | 1,052 | 1,012 | −3.8% |
3. Strengthened industrial capacity alongside emerging price and supply risks
EU production expanded significantly
According to PRODCOM data, EU production of chromatography and electrophoresis instruments grew from 14.0 million items to 15.0 million items (+7.1% by quantity), and from €345.1 million to €500.0 million in value (+44.9%). The faster growth in value relative to quantity mirrors the trade pattern and points to a sector-wide shift towards more expensive, technologically advanced products.
Sweden and Germany lead EU specialisation
In 2025, Sweden was by far the most specialised EU Member State in this product category, with a Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) of 0.76 and an RCA of 7.38 — meaning Swedish exports of this product are over seven times more concentrated than the EU average. Denmark (RSCA 0.45) and Ireland (RSCA 0.33) also showed strong specialisation. Germany, while ranking fourth by RSCA (0.20), was the largest single exporter by value in absolute terms (€168.0 million in 2025), followed by Sweden (€150.0 million) and France (€79.0 million).
| Member State | RSCA | RCA | Export value 2025 (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 0.761 | 7.38 | 149,957,705 |
| Denmark | 0.448 | 2.62 | — |
| Ireland | 0.329 | 1.98 | — |
| Germany | 0.203 | 1.51 | 168,032,048 |
| Netherlands | 0.127 | 1.29 | 61,865,720 |
At the other end of the spectrum, Slovakia, Greece, Poland, Spain, and Latvia showed negative RSCA values, indicating a comparative disadvantage in this product.
Price volatility varied widely across partners
The coefficient of variation (CV) of trade values differed markedly across partners, revealing which relationships carried the most risk:
- Import side: India (CV 1.55), Malaysia (1.00), and Mexico (0.91) showed the highest volatility, though these were smaller trading partners. Among the top partners, Switzerland (0.51) and Japan (0.22) were more volatile than the US (0.15) and China (0.13).
- Export side: Hong Kong (CV 1.17) and Russia (0.79) stood out as the most volatile destinations, which is consistent with the structural breaks observed in the data — Hong Kong's export collapse and the near-total cessation of exports to Russia.
Three notable supply shocks were detected
The data reveals three significant shock events:
- Japan import price shock (2022): An abnormality score of 8.7 with a +61.9% price shift. Japan's share of EU imports was 9.3% at the time. This may reflect post-pandemic supply constraints and yen-related cost inflation affecting Japanese instrument manufacturers.
- China import price shock (2020): An abnormality score of 4.5 with a +26.1% price shift, against a 24.3% import value share. The timing coincides with the early COVID-19 disruption in Chinese manufacturing and logistics.
- Russia export supply shock (2024): An abnormality score of 2.4 with a −99.3% value shift, representing a near-complete collapse of EU exports to Russia. This is clearly linked to the EU sanctions regime following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which progressively restricted exports of advanced technology goods.
Export propensity surged, confirming the sector's outward orientation
The EU's export propensity — the ratio of exports to domestic production — more than doubled from 53.9% to 109.7% (+103.3%). A value above 100% means that the EU exported more in value than it produced domestically in the final year, which can occur when re-exports, intra-firm transfers, or value chain effects are involved. Trade intensity (the sum of imports and exports relative to production) also rose from 68.3% to 106.3% (+55.7%). The growing outward orientation signals that EU-based firms increasingly operate as global players, sourcing and selling across borders to a greater degree than at the start of the period.
Conclusion
Over the 2015–2025 period, the EU's trade position in chromatography and electrophoresis instruments strengthened considerably. Export values rose by nearly a quarter while volumes held steady, indicating a shift towards higher-value product lines. The trade surplus widened to €258 million, underpinned by robust demand from the United States, China, and — increasingly — Singapore and South Korea. Import growth was more muted, and the EU diversified its sourcing, as reflected in declining HHI concentration.
Three structural shifts stand out: the collapse of EU exports to Hong Kong (offset by Singapore's rise), the decline of UK-EU trade flows (a likely Brexit effect), and the near-complete cessation of exports to Russia (driven by sanctions). Meanwhile, price shocks from Japan (2022) and China (2020) underscore the sector's sensitivity to supply disruptions in key partner countries.
Looking ahead, the EU's deepening export orientation and the leading role of Sweden, Germany, and France in specialised production suggest a competitive sector. However, the rising trade intensity and export propensity also imply greater exposure to geopolitical and supply-chain risks — a consideration that will be increasingly important as trade policy tensions and technology controls continue to evolve.