Market evolution: High starch roots and tubers (CN 07149020) — 2015–2025
Introduction
The EU trade in Arrowroot, salep and similar high-starch roots and tubers (Customs code 07149020) experienced a period of robust growth and significant structural change between 2015 and 2025. While the market remains a niche within the broader category of starchy roots, the data reveals a clear expansion in trade volume, a dramatic reorientation of supply chains toward West Africa, and a substantial increase in export activity, particularly to the United Kingdom. This report analyzes the key dynamics shaping this market over the decade.
1. Sustained Growth Amidst a Widening Trade Deficit
Over the 2015–2025 period, the EU market for high-starch roots and tubers expanded considerably in terms of both imports and exports. However, the growth in imports consistently outpaced that of exports, leading to a widening of the EU's trade deficit in this product category.
1.1 Import Growth Outpaces Export Expansion
EU imports of CN 07149020 saw robust growth, with the value increasing by 112.3% (from €3.95 million to €8.40 million) and the quantity rising by 148.6% (from 2,590 tonnes to 6,439 tonnes) over the period. The General Overview highlights that the import unit price generally declined, suggesting economies of scale or shifts in sourcing. EU exports, while starting from a much smaller base, experienced even more dramatic percentage growth, with value surging by 1,078.6% and quantity by 978.2%.
| Metric | 2015 | 2025 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import Value (EUR) | 3,954,889 | 8,396,794 | +112.3% |
| Import Quantity (tonnes) | 2,590 | 6,439 | +148.6% |
| Export Value (EUR) | 121,229 | 1,428,754 | +1,078.6% |
| Export Quantity (tonnes) | 67 | 721 | +978.2% |
| Trade Balance (EUR) | -3,833,660 | -6,968,040 | -81.8% (widening) |
Source: EU Trade Overview
1.2 The Persistence and Worsening of the Trade Deficit
Despite the strong export performance, the EU's trade deficit for this product increased in absolute terms from €3.83 million to €6.97 million. This indicates that the surge in export value was insufficient to offset the concurrent growth in import value. The deficit reached its peak around 2019 (€8.53 million) before narrowing slightly during the disruption years of 2020-2021, only to widen again by 2025.
2. A Dramatic Reorientation of Geographic Partnerships
The most striking evolution in the EU's trade for CN 07149020 is the profound shift in its main trading partners. The sourcing of imports moved decisively away from Asia and towards West Africa, while exports became overwhelmingly focused on the United Kingdom.
2.1 The West African Ascendancy in EU Imports
In 2015, China was the dominant supplier, accounting for the vast majority of EU imports by value. By 2025, its share had diminished substantially, while a group of West African nations—led by Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Togo—collectively became the primary source. Top Partners data shows:
| Country | 2015 Import Value (EUR) | 2025 Import Value (EUR) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 2,644,489 | 1,861,433 | -29.6% |
| Niger | 709,425 | 2,636,572 | +271.6% |
| Burkina Faso | 478,639 | 1,117,736 | +133.5% |
| Mali | 93,275 | 533,036 | +471.5% |
| Togo | 9,373 | 316,157 | +3,273.1% |
Source: EU Imports by Partner
This shift may reflect changing production capabilities, supply chain diversification efforts, or EU trade policy with these regions.
2.2 The United Kingdom Becomes the Premier Export Destination
EU exports of this product became heavily concentrated on the United Kingdom. In 2015, the UK was already the top destination but accounted for only €95,314. By 2025, its value had grown to €627,467, representing a 558.3% increase. Other significant, though much smaller, export markets that grew include the United States and Belarus. This concentration is reflected in the Top Reporters data, which shows Spain and the Netherlands also growing their export volumes substantially.
2.3 Shifting Roles of EU Member States
Within the EU, the roles of member states in importing and exporting this product changed markedly. Spain saw an explosive increase in its import activity, becoming the bloc's largest importer by 2025. Conversely, Belgium and France saw their import shares decline significantly. For exports, Spain and the Netherlands emerged as the dominant EU exporters, while Sweden and Belgium saw their once-significant roles vanish.
3. Evolving Market Structure and Notable Price Shocks
The market evolved towards greater diversification and lower concentration, though it remains susceptible to significant price volatility from major suppliers.
3.1 Diversification Reduces Market Concentration
A key finding is the substantial decrease in market concentration for both imports and exports, as measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). This indicates the market became less reliant on a small number of dominant partners.
| Flow | HHI 2015 | HHI 2025 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imports (Value) | 4,744 | 1,839 | -61.2% |
| Exports (Value) | 6,529 | 2,986 | -54.3% |
Source: Market Concentration
The diversification is particularly evident on the import side with the rise of multiple West African suppliers, reducing the former dominance of China.
3.2 Specialisation Highlights Core EU Producers
Analysis of Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) in 2025 shows that Spain and the Netherlands have a strong specialization in this product within the EU. Their high positive RSCA scores (0.75 and 0.36, respectively) indicate they are significant net exporters relative to their overall trade. In contrast, large economies like Austria, Czechia, and Sweden show negative specialization, acting primarily as importers. (Specialisation data)
3.3 Episodes of Significant Price Volatility
The period was not without price shocks. The volatility analysis and shock events identify two notable price shocks in the import stream:
- Costa Rica in 2017: A major price shock (abnormality score 5.4) saw import prices from Costa Rica jump by 127.6%. Costa Rica was a significant supplier at the time, accounting for 12.8% of import value that year.
- China in 2021: A price shock (abnormality 3.5) occurred amidst the broader supply chain disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Import prices from China, which still held a 38% value share, increased by 27.5%.
These events underscore the market's vulnerability to production or logistical issues in key supplier countries.
Conclusion
Between 2015 and 2025, the EU trade market for high-starch roots and tubers (CN 07149020) underwent a transformation. It grew in size but did so in a way that deepened the EU's trade deficit. The most profound change was geographic: the supply chain pivoted from Asia to West Africa, while the export market consolidated around the United Kingdom. This restructuring led to a more diversified and less concentrated import market. While EU exports boomed from a low base, the market remains exposed to price shocks, as seen in the volatility from suppliers like Costa Rica and China. Overall, the period was characterized by robust growth, significant realignment of trade flows, and evolving competitive advantages within the EU.