Market evolution: Industrial textile fabrics (CN 59) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report examines the evolution of EU trade in CN chapter 59 — covering impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics and textile articles suitable for industrial use — over the period 2015 to 2025. The chapter spans a wide range of products, from plastic-coated fabrics and tyre cord to technical textiles, conveyor belting, and rubberised fabrics. Over the decade, the EU has consolidated its position as a net exporter of these goods, with its trade surplus more than doubling. At the same time, the structure of both imports and exports has shifted significantly, reflecting geopolitical realignments, the post-Brexit reconfiguration of UK–EU trade, and a broad move towards higher-value export specialisation. The analysis draws on EU-level trade flows, partner-level breakdowns, product segment data, concentration measures, and vulnerability indicators.
1. A widening surplus driven by price appreciation, not volume growth
The EU's trade balance in CN 59 goods strengthened dramatically over the period, rising from €802 million in 2015 to €1.62 billion in 2025 — an increase of 101.5%. However, the dynamics behind this surplus are asymmetric between exports and imports and deserve careful unpacking.
Export values grew strongly while volumes barely moved
EU exports in value terms rose from €2.43 billion to €3.42 billion (+41.0%). Yet in quantity terms, exports grew only marginally — from 237,589 tonnes to 240,223 tonnes (+1.1%). The entire value increase is therefore attributable to a sharp rise in unit export prices, which climbed from €10,212 per tonne to €14,241 per tonne (+39.5%). This pattern suggests that the EU has been shifting its export basket towards higher-value, more specialised products rather than simply selling greater volumes. It is consistent with the sector's character: many CN 59 products — technical textiles, industrial fabrics, conveyor belting — are engineered goods where performance and certification command premium pricing.
Import volumes rose while prices declined
Imports tell the opposite story. Import values increased only modestly, from €1.62 billion to €1.80 billion (+11.1%), while volumes grew more substantially, from 260,715 tonnes to 306,986 tonnes (+17.7%). Crucially, average import prices fell from €6,229 to €5,879 per tonne (−5.6%). This implies that the EU has been sourcing more tonnage at lower unit costs — a pattern consistent with growing reliance on low-cost Asian suppliers, particularly China and Vietnam.
| Indicator | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exports — value (€ bn) | 2.43 | 3.42 | +41.0% |
| Exports — quantity (kt) | 237.6 | 240.2 | +1.1% |
| Exports — price (€/t) | 10,212 | 14,241 | +39.5% |
| Imports — value (€ bn) | 1.62 | 1.80 | +11.1% |
| Imports — quantity (kt) | 260.7 | 307.0 | +17.7% |
| Imports — price (€/t) | 6,229 | 5,879 | −5.6% |
| Trade balance (€ bn) | 0.80 | 1.62 | +101.5% |
The EU's net-exporter status has deepened considerably
The net import reliance ratio moved from −11.6% in 2015 to −32.4% in 2025 (negative values indicate a net-export position). This is a striking shift: the EU was already a net exporter at the start of the period, but its surplus position roughly tripled in magnitude. Meanwhile, export propensity — the share of EU production that is exported outside the bloc — nearly doubled from 27.2% to 53.6%, pointing to an industry increasingly oriented towards global markets.
2. Geopolitical realignments reshaped the partner landscape
The decade 2015–2025 saw profound changes in the geographic composition of both EU imports and exports of CN 59 products. Brexit, the Russia–Ukraine conflict, and the rise of Vietnam as a manufacturing hub all left visible imprints in the data.
China dominates imports; Vietnam has surged
China remained by far the largest extra-EU supplier throughout the period, with import values rising from €457 million to €717 million (+56.8%). Together with the explosive growth of Vietnamese exports to the EU — from €36 million to €115 million (+217.3%) — this underscores the increasing role of Asian low-cost manufacturing in supplying the EU market. India also grew meaningfully (+49.1%), though from a smaller base.
| Partner (imports) | 2015 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 457 | 717 | +56.8% |
| Türkiye | 134 | 134 | −0.2% |
| United Kingdom | 347 | 218 | −37.2% |
| Korea, Republic of | 146 | 99 | −32.1% |
| Viet Nam | 36 | 115 | +217.3% |
| United States | 144 | 125 | −13.6% |
| India | 24 | 36 | +49.1% |
UK trade was reconfigured by Brexit
The United Kingdom's role changed dramatically on both sides of the ledger. As an import source, UK shipments to the EU fell from €347 million to €218 million (−37.2%), reflecting the frictions introduced by the post-Brexit trade regime. A notable price shock was detected in UK-origin imports around 2021, with an abnormality of 3.9 standard deviations and a −17.4% unit-price shift — likely linked to the transition period ending and the new customs procedures taking effect. On the export side, the decline was milder (−2.3%), and the UK remained the EU's second-largest export destination at €250 million, suggesting that EU exporters retained competitiveness even as import flows were disrupted.
Exports to Russia collapsed; Morocco and Türkiye gained ground
EU exports to the Russian Federation fell from €132 million to just €24 million (−81.6%), a decline almost certainly linked to the sanctions regime imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This represented a significant loss of market. Part of the gap was filled by rapid growth in exports to Morocco (from €95 million to €237 million, +149.2%) — consistent with the EU's deepening trade integration with Morocco under the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and the country's growing role in nearshoring — and to Türkiye (+67.1%), which has become a key production and logistics hub linking European and Asian supply chains.
| Partner (exports) | 2015 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 320 | 481 | +50.0% |
| United Kingdom | 256 | 250 | −2.3% |
| Türkiye | 143 | 240 | +67.1% |
| China | 242 | 271 | +11.8% |
| Morocco | 95 | 237 | +149.2% |
| Russian Federation | 132 | 24 | −81.6% |
Import concentration has risen, while export markets remain diversified
The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for imports by value increased from 1,580 to 1,965 (+24.4%), indicating growing concentration in the import base — driven largely by China's expanding share. In volume terms, the rise was even steeper (+57.7%). By contrast, the export HHI remained flat at around 550–570, confirming that EU exporters have maintained a diversified customer base across multiple geographies. This asymmetry is noteworthy: while the EU's export markets are well-spread, its import supply base has become more dependent on a smaller number of partners, which could pose resilience risks in the event of supply disruptions.
3. Internal EU dynamics: Germany anchors the market, Poland emerges as a major exporter
Within the EU, Germany remained the dominant player in both imports and exports of CN 59 goods, but several other Member States showed striking growth trajectories that reflect broader trends of industrial relocation and specialisation within the bloc.
Germany's export dominance grew, while its import role diminished slightly
Germany accounted for the largest share of extra-EU exports, rising from €889 million to €1.18 billion (+32.9%) and representing over a third of total EU exports by 2025. On the import side, Germany's share actually declined from €422 million to €354 million (−16.2%), even as the overall EU import bill grew. This suggests that other Member States — particularly the Netherlands and Spain — absorbed a greater share of inbound trade, potentially reflecting their port logistics roles.
Poland's export growth was extraordinary
Among all EU Member States, Poland showed the most dramatic transformation, with exports soaring from €76 million to €192 million (+152.6%). This more than doubled Poland's position and reflects the broader trend of Central and Eastern European countries becoming significant players in higher-value manufacturing. Italy (+27.9%), Belgium (+26.2%), and Spain (+19.7%) also showed solid export growth.
| EU Member State (exports) | 2015 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 889 | 1,182 | +32.9% |
| Italy | 406 | 519 | +27.9% |
| France | 160 | 189 | +17.8% |
| Belgium | 145 | 183 | +26.2% |
| Netherlands | 155 | 181 | +16.5% |
| Spain | 145 | 174 | +19.7% |
| Poland | 76 | 192 | +152.6% |
Specialisation patterns align with traditional industrial strengths
Revealed symmetric comparative advantage (RSCA) data for 2025 shows that Luxembourg (RSCA 0.83), Portugal (0.47), Italy (0.21), and Germany (0.14) are the most specialised EU exporters in CN 59 products. These results are consistent with established industrial profiles: Italy and Germany have long-standing strengths in technical textiles and industrial fabrics, while Portugal's specialisation may reflect its growing textile finishing and technical fabric industry. At the other end, Malta, Cyprus, and Ireland show negative RSCA values, confirming they are net importers in this product category.
EU production grew in volume but lagged in value
EU domestic production of CN 59 goods rose from approximately 898 million kg to 1.44 billion kg in quantity terms (+60.3%), but value grew much more modestly from €6.02 billion to €6.44 billion (+7.1%). This divergence — rapidly expanding volumes with relatively flat values — implies declining average production prices within the EU. It may reflect a shift in the product mix towards higher-volume, lower-unit-price items, or competitive pressures driving down margins. Notably, production value peaked at €6.89 billion in 2022 before declining, suggesting some softening in recent years.
Plastic-coated textiles (5903) and technical textiles (5911) dominate the product mix
At the sub-product level, two categories account for the bulk of trade. CN 5903 (textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics) is the largest category in both imports (~106,000 tonnes valued at €655 million in 2025) and exports (~120,000 tonnes valued at €1.51 billion). CN 5911 (textile products for technical use) is the second-largest export category at €1.00 billion and also commands the highest unit prices, reflecting its specialised industrial applications. On the import side, CN 5902 (tyre cord fabric) grew from 70,000 to 90,000 tonnes, consistent with the automotive industry's demand for reinforcement textiles. CN 5901 (gum-coated and bookbinding fabrics) nearly doubled in import volume, rising from 10,793 to 22,168 tonnes.
Conclusion
Over the decade 2015–2025, the EU's trade in industrial textile fabrics (CN 59) has been characterised by three overarching trends: a strengthening net-export position driven primarily by price appreciation rather than volume expansion; a significant realignment of trade partners shaped by Brexit, sanctions on Russia, and the rise of Asian — especially Vietnamese — manufacturing; and an internal EU market structure in which Germany consolidated its dominance while Poland emerged as a major exporter.
The EU's competitive advantage in this sector appears to lie increasingly in higher-value, specialised products. Export prices rose by nearly 40% while volumes were flat, and the most specialised Member States (Luxembourg, Portugal, Italy, Germany) are those with established strengths in technical and engineered textiles. However, the growing import concentration around China — with the import HHI rising by 24% — introduces a vulnerability that warrants attention. Should supply disruptions or trade policy changes affect the China corridor, the EU would need alternative sources, and Vietnam's rapid growth as a supplier offers one partial hedge.
Looking ahead, the data suggest that the EU's industrial textile sector is in a relatively strong competitive position, but one increasingly shaped by global geopolitical dynamics. The collapse of Russia-bound exports, the post-Brexit reconfiguration of UK trade, and the deepening of nearshoring relationships with Morocco and Türkiye all point to a market that is responsive — sometimes sharply — to policy and political shifts beyond the purely commercial.