Market evolution: Drawing and measuring instruments (CN 9017) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the evolution of the European Union's trade in drawing, marking-out, and mathematical calculating instruments, as well as hand-held measuring length instruments, classified under Combined Nomenclature (CN) code 9017. The analysis covers the period from 2015 to 2025, focusing on intra-EU and extra-EU trade flows, market structure, and vulnerability indicators. The data reveals a fundamental transformation in the EU's position: it has shifted from being a net exporter to a net importer, with growing dependency on supplies from a concentrated set of partners, most notably China. Concurrently, EU production volumes have declined sharply, but production value has surged, indicating a shift toward higher-value-added segments.

1. The Fundamental Shift: From Net Exporter to Net Importer

The EU's trade balance in CN 9017 has undergone a profound reversal over the decade, moving from a significant export surplus to a position of net import reliance. This structural change is the report's central finding.

1.1 A Steadily Growing Import Bill Contrasted with Stagnating Exports

Between 2015 and 2025, EU imports of CN 9017 products increased by 16.6% in value, reaching €320.0 billion in 2025. In contrast, export values remained largely flat, ending at €163.5 billion (-0.9%). This divergent trend is starkly reflected in the trade balance. The EU recorded a trade deficit of €109.4 million in 2015, which widened to €156.5 million by 2025, representing a 43% deterioration.

1.2 The Volume-Price Paradox: Shipping Less Weight at Higher Prices

While the value of imports grew, import quantity (in net tonnes) saw only a modest 1.7% increase, suggesting the value growth was primarily price-driven. The average import price per tonne rose by 14.6%. The export story is more dramatic: EU export volume in tonnes plummeted by 37.8%, but the average export price surged by 59.2%. This indicates that the EU is exporting significantly less physical volume but specializing in higher-priced, likely more technologically advanced or precision, instruments.

2. Rising Import Dependency and Geographical Concentration

The EU's growing import bill is coupled with a concerning rise in supply concentration and a clear shift in key partner dynamics, increasing its vulnerability to external shocks.

2.1 China's Dominance Intensifies Amidst Overall Market Consolidation

China solidified its position as the EU's primary supplier of CN 9017 goods. The value of imports from China grew by 48.4% from 2015 to 2025, reaching €182.7 billion. By 2025, China was the top import partner by a wide margin. This rising dominance is mirrored in the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import concentration by value, which increased by 38.1% from 2,607 in 2015 to 3,600 in 2025. An HHI above 2,500 indicates a highly concentrated market, posing significant supply-chain risks.

Source: Top import partners by value

2.2 The Erosion of Traditional Export Markets and Volatile Reorientations

The EU's export landscape has also shifted. While exports to traditional partners like the United Kingdom and Switzerland remained stable or grew, shipments to the Russian Federation collapsed by 92.5% (likely due to sanctions following 2022). The volatility analysis shows high instability in exports to several partners; for example, the coefficient of variation (CV) for exports to Australia is 1.21, indicating erratic year-to-year flows. A significant price shock was detected in exports to Saudi Arabia in 2019, with a 142.9% price shift.

3. Internal Transformation: Specialisation and the Move Up the Value Chain

While external trade shows growing dependency, EU-level production data reveals a domestic industry undergoing a strategic shift, focusing on higher-value output despite lower volumes.

3.1 A Collapse in Volume but a Surge in Value in EU Production

EU production (as measured by PRODCOM data) experienced a dramatic 68.5% drop in the quantity of items produced, from 118.7 million in 2015 to 37.4 million in 2025. Paradoxically, the value of this production more than doubled (+117.0%), soaring from €2.20 billion to €4.77 billion. This indicates a clear pivot away from high-volume, potentially commoditised items, towards higher-value, specialized instruments.

3.2 Germany Anchors a Specialised European Cluster

In 2025, Germany was by far the largest producer, accounting for 31.0% of EU production value. The Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) analysis confirms that Germany, along with Czechia, Sweden, Romania, and Austria, maintains a strong comparative advantage in this sector. Conversely, countries like Ireland, Portugal, and Finland show a significant comparative disadvantage. This suggests a production cluster in Central and Western Europe, specializing in higher-value segments.

Source: Most specialised reporters (RSCA)

3.3 Segment-Level Analysis: Parts and Precision Gauges Drive Growth

The product segment breakdown shows that imports and exports of micrometers, callipers, and gauges (CN 901730) and parts and accessories (CN 901790) grew in both volume and value. In contrast, imports of drafting tables and machines (CN 901710) fell sharply. For exports, the value of CN 901730 remained relatively stable while its quantity decreased, again pointing to higher unit prices. The price per tonne for exported CN 901730 instruments was consistently many times higher than for imported ones, underscoring the EU's specialization in high-precision, high-value gauge and measuring equipment.

Conclusion

The EU market for drawing and measuring instruments (CN 9017) has undergone a fundamental restructuring between 2015 and 2025. The Union has transitioned from a net exporter to a net importer, with a growing trade deficit fueled by price-increased imports. This dependency is increasingly concentrated on China, raising supply-chain resilience concerns. Domestically, the EU industry has responded not by competing on volume but by radically moving up the value chain. Production volumes have plummeted, but production value has surged, indicating a strategic focus on high-precision, high-margin segments like micrometers and callipers. The future trajectory suggests a market where the EU will continue to rely on external suppliers for basic and mid-range instruments, while its domestic production strengths lie in specialized, high-value-added niches. Policymakers and industry players should monitor the rising import concentration and the sector's ability to maintain its high-value production edge.