Market evolution: Motorcycle tyres (CN 401140) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report examines the trade dynamics of new pneumatic tyres for motorcycles (CN code 401140) within the European Union over the 2015–2025 period. The analysis focuses on the EU's trade with non-EU countries, revealing a market undergoing significant structural shifts. Over this decade, the EU's position has evolved from a modest net exporter to a consistent and widening net importer, driven by a combination of changing global supply chains, diverging price trends between imports and exports, and a notable transformation in domestic production. The following sections detail the key patterns and underlying forces shaping this market.
The EU's Shifting Trade Balance: From Exporter to Importer
The period from 2015 to 2025 marks a clear structural shift in the EU's motorcycle tyre trade, characterized by a widening trade deficit and diverging price evolutions between imports and exports.
A Widening and Persistent Trade Deficit
Over the decade, the EU's trade balance for motorcycle tyres deteriorated significantly. The deficit grew from approximately €107 million in 2015 to €140 million in 2025, a deepening of 30.9% (General Overview: Trade). This shift is primarily volume-driven: import volumes increased by 16.2%, while export volumes slightly decreased by 2.2% over the same period. Consequently, the EU's net import reliance grew from 28.5% to 36.7%.
Divergent Price Trajectories for Imports and Exports
While the total value of both imports and exports grew, they did so under different pricing conditions. Import values rose by 33.9% and export values by 36.3% (General Overview: Trade). However, the underlying price dynamics differ starkly. The average price of EU exports, measured per tonne, surged by 39.5% to €11,074. In contrast, the average import price per tonne increased by a more moderate 15.2%, reaching €6,709. This divergence suggests the EU is exporting higher-value or premium tyres while importing more price-competitive, mass-market products.
The Geographical Reconfiguration of Trade Partners
The origins of the EU's imports and the destinations for its exports have undergone a notable realignment, with new partners gaining prominence and traditional ones declining.
Import Sources: The Rise of Serbia and Indonesia, The Fall of Brazil
The composition of the EU's top import partners shifted dramatically between 2015 and 2025.
| Partner Country | Import Value 2015 (€M) | Import Value 2025 (€M) | Change (2015-2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | 30.3 | 63.4 | +109.4% |
| China | 31.7 | 56.3 | +77.5% |
| Japan | 50.3 | 80.7 | +60.4% |
| Indonesia | 5.4 | 36.7 | +582.2% |
| Brazil | 35.2 | 11.8 | -66.3% |
Source: General Overview: Top Partners by Value - Imports
Serbia and Indonesia have emerged as major suppliers, with Indonesia showing explosive growth. Meanwhile, imports from Brazil collapsed by over two-thirds. This indicates a significant diversification and relocation of sourcing, potentially influenced by trade agreements, cost competitiveness, and supply chain strategies.
Export Destinations: Growth in Switzerland and Australia, Decline in Japan and Brazil
The EU's export markets also shifted.
| Partner Country | Export Value 2015 (€M) | Export Value 2025 (€M) | Change (2015-2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 31.7 | 42.6 | +34.2% |
| United Kingdom | 22.1 | 25.9 | +17.3% |
| Switzerland | 13.4 | 22.0 | +63.7% |
| Australia | 6.0 | 8.9 | +47.3% |
| Japan | 9.4 | 6.3 | -33.2% |
| Brazil | 9.4 | 4.9 | -47.6% |
Source: General Overview: Top Partners by Value - Exports
While the United States remains the top destination, exports to Switzerland and Australia grew substantially. Conversely, the EU lost significant export market share in Japan and Brazil.
Industrial Restructuring: Value Over Volume
Concurrent with the trade shift, the EU's domestic motorcycle tyre production sector has undergone a profound restructuring, emphasizing value over volume and leading to a geographic concentration of export capacity.
A Sharp Decline in Production Volume
The most striking change is the collapse in domestic production volume. Output fell from 21.3 million pieces in 2015 to an estimated 10 million pieces in 2025, a decrease of 53% (Market Structure: Production Quantity). This suggests a significant offshoring of production for standard tyres or a major efficiency leap.
Rising Production Value and Specialisation in Specific EU States
Despite the halving of unit output, the total value of production increased by 14.7%, indicating a strategic move towards higher-value, specialized segments (Market Structure: Production Value). This is reflected in the specialisation of EU member states. Analysis of the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) for 2025 shows that Slovenia (RSCA 0.758) and Spain (RSCA 0.594) are the most specialised exporters within the EU (Market Structure: Most Specialised Reporters). This correlates with the phenomenal growth in Spain's reported export values (+1,454% since 2015) and Slovenia's (+230%), as found in the top EU reporters data. Meanwhile, traditional production powerhouses like France have seen their export values plummet by 74%.
Conclusion
Over the 2015–2025 decade, the EU motorcycle tyre market has been fundamentally reshaped. The Union has transitioned into a net importer with a growing deficit, sourcing increasingly from new partners in Southeast Europe (Serbia) and Asia (Indonesia), while its exports thrive in premium markets like Switzerland and the US. This is underpinned by a strategic industrial restructuring where EU manufacturers have drastically cut unit production but increased the overall value of output, concentrating specialized capacity in a few member states like Spain and Slovenia. These dynamics suggest an EU industry focusing on high-margin segments while ceding volume production to global competitors, a trend that enhances value capture but may increase dependency on external supply for mass-market products.