Market evolution: Motor vehicle clutches (CN 87089390) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyses the evolution of the European Union's trade in motor vehicle clutches and parts (Combined Nomenclature code 87089390) over the period 2015 to 2025. The data reveals a dynamic market characterized by a significant strengthening of the EU's competitive position, a major shift in its geographical trade patterns, and a growing integration of its domestic production into global value chains. Despite facing major global shocks, the EU has managed to increase the value of its exports and solidify its role as a net exporter of these components.

1. Strengthening Value Amidst Volume Stagnation

The EU's external trade in motor vehicle clutches over the decade shows a distinct pattern: a robust increase in the monetary value of trade, contrasted with stagnation or slight decline in physical volumes. This divergence points to significant changes in market composition and pricing.

The robust expansion of export values underscores enhanced EU competitiveness

From 2015 to 2025, the total value of EU extra-EU exports for CN 87089390 grew by 20.4%, rising from €1.37 billion to €1.65 billion. This growth occurred even as the exported volume measured in tonnes fell by 5.1% over the same period. The primary driver was a substantial 26.9% increase in the average export price, from €10,039 to €12,744 per tonne. This shift indicates a move towards higher-value-added products and improved pricing power within the EU's clutch manufacturing sector. Detailed evolution can be reviewed in the trade overview.

Imports grew even more rapidly, reflecting strong internal demand

While the EU consolidated its export position, its import demand also expanded significantly. Import values surged by 39.2%, from €580 million to €807 million, with quantities rising by 13.3%. Import prices also increased by 22.9%. This robust import growth, outpacing exports in percentage terms, highlights the sustained and increasing demand for clutch components within the EU's automotive manufacturing base. The trade balance, however, remained strongly positive, widening from €794 million in 2015 to €848 million in 2025.

The EU's net exporter status has deepened considerably

A key indicator of the sector's health is the net import reliance, which measures the trade balance as a share of apparent consumption. For CN 87089390, this figure is negative, confirming the EU is a net exporter. This reliance deepened from -8.3% in 2015 to -24.4% in 2025, meaning the EU's export surplus grew substantially relative to its internal market size. Concurrently, export propensity, or exports as a share of production, more than doubled from 18.2% to 36.7%. These metrics demonstrate an increasingly outward-oriented and competitive European clutch industry.

2. A Dramatic Realignment of Geographical Partnerships

The period was marked by a seismic shift in the EU's trading partners for motor vehicle clutches, driven by geopolitical events, trade policies, and evolving production networks.

The United Kingdom remains the cornerstone, while Turkey has surged as a key partner

The United Kingdom has consistently been the EU's largest single export destination, although its share fluctuated, with its value in 2025 (€324 million) nearly identical to 2015. The most dramatic change has been the rise of Türkiye. The value of EU clutch exports to Türkiye grew by 106%, from €121 million to €250 million, making it the second-largest destination by 2025. This reflects deepening automotive production ties and integration of supply chains. On the import side, the United Kingdom's role diminished sharply; its value share of EU imports fell from the top position to third place, with its value dropping by 44.5% to €106 million. This likely reflects the post-Brexit recalibration of supply chains. The full list of top partners is available in the partners analysis.

Trade with China and Russia has followed opposite trajectories

Trade with China exhibited a stark asymmetry. EU imports from China grew by 174% to €186 million, making it the second-largest source. In contrast, EU exports to China fell by 37.2% to €114 million. This suggests a growing reliance on Chinese manufacturing for clutch components, possibly for cost reasons, while European exporters faced increasing competition or market access challenges within China.

The most acute geopolitical shock was the collapse in trade with Russia. EU exports to Russia plummeted by 95.1%, from €74 million in 2015 to just €3.6 million in 2025. This near-total erosion is a direct consequence of the sanctions regime following 2022, representing a significant supply shock and a major reorientation of European automotive parts exports.

Central Europe has emerged as a major production and import hub

Within the EU, the most specialised producers are Hungary and Slovakia, which also experienced the fastest growth in import values (309% and 247% respectively). Poland also saw explosive import growth (148%). This pattern indicates the consolidation of clutch manufacturing and assembly in Central European economies, which source components from outside the EU (e.g., from China, Korea) and also act as major intra-EU export bases. Germany remains the undisputed bloc leader, accounting for over 36% of the EU's total clutch production value and 59% of its extra-EU exports in 2025.

3. Rising Autonomy and Resilience Through Specialisation

Underlying the trade statistics is a narrative of an industry that has become more specialised, integrated, and arguably more resilient, despite facing external shocks.

EU production has pivoted decisively towards higher-value output

EU-level production data for the broader clutch category (Prodcom 29323065) shows a transformative shift. While the physical quantity of production was virtually flat (-0.1%), its value surged by 75.8%, from €2.96 billion to an estimated €5.20 billion. This mirrors the trade data, confirming that the European industry is increasingly competing on technology and quality rather than volume. This high-value specialisation is reflected in the concentration indices; the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for export value declined, indicating a more diversified customer base, while the HHI for import volume increased, pointing to greater sourcing concentration.

The Russia shock was absorbed with limited volatility in core partnerships

The data identifies two significant shock events. The Russia supply shock was severe in scale (a 95.7% drop) but geographically contained. More intriguingly, a price shock was detected in exports to the United Arab Emirates in 2021, where an abnormal price drop coincided with a minor market share shift. Crucially, the volatility measured by the coefficient of variation for the EU's top seven export partners (like the UK at 0.116, Korea at 0.115) is relatively low, suggesting trade with these core partners is stable. This implies the EU's clutch trade network has successfully re-routed flows away from Russia to other partners with minimal disruption to overall volumes.

The industry's structure points to a robust and integrated future

The simultaneous growth in production value, export propensity, and deepened net exporter status, alongside strong import growth, paints a picture of a deeply integrated industry. EU manufacturers are likely importing specific components (e.g., from China, Korea) for assembly into higher-value clutch systems, which are then exported globally and used in vehicles produced within the EU. The dominance of Germany, alongside the rapid rise of specialised hubs in Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, suggests a geographically organised supply chain within the single market. This specialisation enhances efficiency and resilience.

Conclusion

Over the decade 2015-2025, the EU motor vehicle clutch market underwent a profound transformation. The industry successfully climbed the value chain, achieving strong growth in export and production value despite flatlining physical volumes. The geographical landscape of trade was redrawn, with Türkiye becoming a major partner, Chinese imports rising sharply, and Russian exports collapsing due to sanctions. Internally, production consolidated in Central European specialised hubs, reinforcing the EU's overall position as a powerful and increasingly autonomous net exporter. While vulnerabilities remain, particularly regarding import dependence on specific Asian partners, the sector's demonstrated adaptability and focus on high-value production provide a solid foundation for future competitiveness.