Market evolution: Glass frit (CN 320740) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the trade dynamics of glass frit and other glass in the form of powder, granules or flakes (Combined Nomenclature code 320740) for the European Union over the period 2015–2025. The product falls under chapter 32 of the EU customs nomenclature, encompassing preparations used in the ceramic, enamelling, and glass industries. It bundles two subcategories: high-purity silica glass (CN 32074040) and all other glass frit and glass powders (CN 32074085). Over the decade under review, the EU glass frit market underwent a profound structural transformation: export volumes nearly halved while unit prices surged, import dependence deepened, and geographic trade patterns shifted markedly. This report identifies and interprets the main dynamics behind these trends.

Full overview on the Trade Dashboard

1. A Market in Structural Recalibration: Shrinking Volumes, Rising Values

1.1 EU exports shifted from volume to value over the decade

The most striking feature of the 2015–2025 period is the divergence between export volumes and export values. EU exports of glass frit fell from 424,555 tonnes in 2015 to 212,514 tonnes in 2025 — a decline of 49.9%. Over the same period, the average export unit price climbed from €704/tonne to €1,236/tonne, an increase of 75.5%. The net effect on total export value was a comparatively modest contraction of 12.2% (from €299 million to €263 million), with the peak reaching €357 million in 2022.

This pattern suggests the EU industry moved toward higher-value, more specialised glass frit products — or that cost pressures (energy, raw materials) were passed through in prices — while losing ground on volume competitiveness.

Trade overview

1.2 Domestic production contracted in parallel with export decline

The decline in exports mirrors a similar contraction in EU production. Reported EU production of glass frit fell from 978 million kg in 2015 to 496 million kg in 2025, a drop of 49.3% in quantity. Production value declined more moderately, from €587 million to €500 million (−14.8%), again reflecting the rising unit values. The near-identical magnitude of the production-volume and export-volume declines (both around −50%) suggests that export contraction closely tracked the overall reduction in EU manufacturing capacity, rather than being offset by growing domestic consumption.

Production volumes

1.3 Import volumes surged as the EU deficit widened

While exports contracted, EU imports of glass frit grew sharply. Import volumes more than doubled, rising from 30,687 tonnes in 2015 to 64,805 tonnes in 2025 (+111.2%). Import value increased from €38 million to €61 million (+59.8%). Notably, the average import price fell from €1,239/tonne to €938/tonne (−24.3%), widening the price gap between EU exports and imports. This pattern is consistent with growing competition from lower-cost suppliers abroad.

The EU remained a strong net exporter throughout the period, with a trade surplus of €202 million in 2025. However, this surplus shrank by 22.6% from its 2015 level, and the net import reliance indicator deepened from −70.4% to −77.8%, confirming that while the EU remains a net exporter, its relative export dominance has eroded.

2. Shifting Geographies: Partners and Producers in Flux

2.1 Turkey became the EU's primary export market and a growing import source

Turkey emerged as the single most important bilateral partner for EU glass frit trade during this period. On the export side, Turkey rose from the second-largest destination to the top export market, with export values growing from €20 million to €36 million (+79.1%). On the import side, Turkey grew from €9 million to €14 million (+51.5%), making it the third-largest import supplier. Turkey's dual role as both a major buyer and a growing supplier reflects its expanding glass and ceramics manufacturing sector, which processes EU-origin glass frit into finished products but also increasingly supplies the EU market.

Turkey on partners dashboard

2.2 Traditional Middle Eastern and North African export markets contracted sharply

Several historically important EU export destinations experienced steep declines:

The collapse in exports to the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia — collectively representing a decline of over €45 million — points to a structural reorientation of EU glass frit trade away from the MENA region. This likely reflects the development of local production capacity in these countries, particularly in the Gulf states, as well as intensified competition from Asian suppliers.

Export partners

2.3 China and Switzerland emerged as fast-growing import sources

China's role as an import supplier to the EU expanded significantly, with import values rising from €6.3 million to €14.8 million (+137.4%). Switzerland showed the most dramatic relative growth, with imports surging from €152,000 to €7.2 million — a 4,635% increase — making it the fourth-largest supplier by 2025. Russia and Mexico also showed extreme volatility and growth trajectories, though from very low baselines.

The concentration of import sources (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index for imports declining from 1,808 to 1,664 by value) indicates a modest diversification of the EU's import base, though imports from certain volatile sources (Russia, Mexico) introduced new concentration risks, as evidenced by the HHI for import volumes rising sharply from 2,142 to 3,433.

2.4 Spain remained the EU's export powerhouse but lost share

Among EU Member States, Spain dominated glass frit exports throughout the period, accounting for roughly half of total EU production specialisation (RCA of 8.25 in 2025). However, Spanish export values declined from €213 million to €147 million (−30.9%), eroding its share. Germany partially compensated, with exports rising from €32 million to €52 million (+62.0%), and Czechia and Poland showed strong growth (+107.4% and +235.0% respectively), suggesting an eastward shift within EU production.

EU reporters

3. Price Volatility and the 2022 Supply Shock

3.1 Export prices surged after 2021, nearly doubling in four years

EU export prices for glass frit rose from €681/tonne (the decade's minimum, recorded in 2016) to €1,283/tonne by 2023 (the maximum), before settling at €1,236/tonne in 2025. The sharpest year-on-year increases occurred between 2021 and 2022, coinciding with the European energy crisis triggered by the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Glass manufacturing is highly energy-intensive, making it particularly sensitive to natural gas price shocks.

Import prices followed a different trajectory, peaking earlier at €1,418/tonne (2019) and declining to €938/tonne by 2025, suggesting that non-EU suppliers absorbed fewer cost increases or benefited from lower energy costs.

3.2 The 2022 price shock was concentrated in specific export markets

The supply shock analysis identifies three significant price shock events in 2022:

All three shocks were price shocks concentrated around 2022, with abnormality scores well above normal variation. The Turkey shock is particularly significant given Turkey's weight in EU exports (13.9% value share). These price spikes are consistent with energy-driven cost increases being transmitted to export markets, likely compounded by post-COVID demand recovery and supply chain disruptions.

3.3 Import-source volatility was highest for irregular suppliers

The volatility analysis reveals substantial variation in the stability of different trade relationships. On the import side, Norway (CV: 1.65), Mexico (CV: 1.52), Ukraine (CV: 1.23), and Russia (CV: 1.13) showed the highest coefficients of variation, indicating highly erratic trade flows. On the export side, Morocco (CV: 0.39), Saudi Arabia (CV: 0.42), and the UAE (CV: 0.51) were the most volatile among major partners, consistent with the sharp volume declines observed in these markets.

Turkey stood out as a remarkably stable export partner (CV: 0.14), reinforcing its role as the EU's most reliable glass frit market.

Conclusion

The EU glass frit market (CN 320740) underwent a fundamental transformation between 2015 and 2025. The most significant development was the near-halving of both export volumes and domestic production, offset only partially by a 75% increase in export unit prices. The EU's traditional role as a volume exporter to MENA markets gave way to a more concentrated, higher-value export profile centred on Turkey, Russia, and Algeria. Simultaneously, imports more than doubled in volume, driven by growing supply from China, Switzerland, and Turkey, narrowing the trade surplus by nearly a quarter.

The 2022 energy crisis acted as a catalyst, amplifying pre-existing trends by sharply increasing production costs and triggering price shocks across major export markets. The geographic diversification of both imports and exports — with Eastern European Member States like Czechia and Poland gaining share, and non-traditional import sources emerging — points to a market that is becoming more globally integrated but also more exposed to external price and supply disruptions. For EU policymakers and industry stakeholders, these trends underscore the importance of monitoring both the competitiveness of EU production and the growing import dependence in a strategically relevant industrial input.