Market evolution: Electric cooking appliances (CN 851660) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the evolution of trade in electric cooking appliances (Combined Nomenclature code 851660) for the European Union from 2015 to 2025. The analysis focuses on the EU's trade with non-EU countries, revealing significant structural shifts in import volumes, export values, partner concentration, and production patterns over the decade. The period is marked by the EU's transition from a net exporter to a net importer, rising prices, and changing competitive dynamics among member states.

1. From net exporter to net importer: A tectonic shift in the EU's trade balance

The most striking development over the 2015-2025 period is the fundamental reversal of the EU's trade position in this product category. Initially a significant net exporter, the EU became a net importer by the end of the period, driven by a massive surge in import volumes and values that far outpaced export growth.

The import surge outpaces export growth

EU imports of electric cooking appliances more than doubled in value, increasing by 94.0% from €924 million in 2015 to €1.79 billion in 2025. This growth was primarily volume-driven, with import quantities rising by 50.0% (from 229,000 tonnes to 343,000 tonnes) and the number of items imported increasing by 74.4%. In contrast, EU export values grew by a modest 6.3% over the same period, despite a significant 41.5% rise in export prices. This price increase, however, masked a decline in export volumes, which fell by 24.9% in weight.

Sources: General Overview

The flip from autonomy to reliance

This divergence led to a complete turnaround in the EU's net import reliance. In 2015, the EU was a net exporter, with a reliance indicator of -11.7%. By 2025, this had flipped to a +5.1% net import reliance, indicating that the bloc now sources more from outside than it sells abroad. Concurrently, the trade intensity (total trade as a share of production) more than doubled, reaching 60% in 2025, underscoring the sector's deepening integration into global (and particularly non-EU) supply chains.

2. Import concentration and global supply chain shocks

The EU's growing import dependence has been channeled through a highly concentrated set of partners, creating vulnerabilities that became apparent during global supply chain disruptions in the 2020s.

Dominance of China and rising dependence on Türkiye

The top import partners account for the vast majority of inflows. China's dominant position strengthened significantly; its share of EU import value grew from 52.3% in 2015 to 61.4% in 2025, with its shipments rising by 128.0% in value. Türkiye solidified its position as the second-largest supplier, with its imports growing by 78.6%. This concentration is reflected in the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import value, which increased by 22.1% from 3,877 to 4,735, indicating a market becoming more concentrated and potentially more vulnerable to supply issues in these key countries.

Source: General Overview - Top Partners

Price volatility and the 2022 shock

The period was not without volatility, particularly on the import side. The most significant shock event detected was a 69.4% price surge for imports from China in 2022, driven by global logistics and energy crises. This year marks a clear inflection point where unit import prices jumped dramatically across all major product segments (e.g., the price per tonne for subheading 85166090 ("other" electric ovens) more than doubled from 2015 to 2022). While prices moderated somewhat by 2025, they remained substantially above pre-2020 levels, contributing to the overall rise in the EU's import bill.

3. Divergent production and specialization within the EU

While the EU as a bloc increased its net imports, the picture within the Union was heterogeneous. Overall production volumes declined, but production value rose, suggesting a shift in the internal product mix, while export specializations varied sharply across member states.

A shift in EU production: Less volume, more value

EU production volume for these appliances fell by 16.3%, from 19.4 million items in 2015 to 16.3 million items in 2025. However, the production value increased by 48.5%, from €2.77 billion to €4.11 billion. This indicates that EU manufacturers may be focusing on higher-value, more premium or specialized appliances, potentially ceding the lower-value segment of the market to imports.

Specialization and the export powerhouses

Analysis of export specialization reveals a clear divide. Member states like Slovenia and Poland show strong comparative advantage (high RSCA scores) and are significant production hubs. In contrast, larger economies like Germany, Italy, and France are major exporters in absolute terms but are less specialized relative to their overall industrial base. Germany remained the EU's largest exporter by value (€615 million in 2025), but its shipments grew only modestly (+4.7%), while specialized producers like Slovenia (+33.7%) and Spain (+7.0%) expanded their exports.

Germany and Italy are not among the top 5 most specialized, but are top exporters by volume. RSCA: Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage. Source: Market Structure - Specialisation

Conclusion

The 2015-2025 decade represents a transformative period for the EU's electric cooking appliance market. The most fundamental change is the EU's decisive shift from a net exporter to a net importer, fueled by a massive expansion in import volumes, primarily from China and Türkiye. This has increased the market's trade intensity and import reliance, while also heightening its exposure to supply chain disruptions and price shocks, as evidenced by the 2022 volatility. Internally, the EU appears to be adapting by focusing domestic production on higher-value segments, though with lower output volumes. The competitive landscape within the EU is fragmented, with highly specialized smaller member states driving export growth alongside large but less specialized traditional industrial powers. Overall, the data points to a market that has become more globally integrated, more import-dependent, and more concentrated in its external supply sources.