Market evolution: Narrow elastic knitted fabric (CN 6002) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report analyses the trade dynamics of the European Union (EU) in products classified under customs code 6002: narrow elastic knitted fabrics. Over the period 2015–2025, the EU market for this product has undergone a significant transformation. The EU has shifted from a position of strong net exporter to a much more balanced, and import-reliant, trade profile. This transition is characterized by a sharp decline in export volumes and values, a more moderate growth in imports, and a fundamental reorientation of key trading partners and product composition. The Scope & Definitions of the product and the data used for this analysis are based on official EU trade statistics.
1. A Decade of Declining Competitiveness and Eroding Trade Surplus
The most striking feature of the 2015–2025 period is the erosion of the EU's trade surplus in narrow elastic knitted fabrics, driven primarily by a collapse in export performance.
1.1 Exports contracted far more severely than imports grew
The EU's trade balance in value terms fell by 54.6% over the period, from a surplus of €26.2 million in 2015 to €11.9 million in 2025. This erosion was almost entirely caused by plummeting exports. While import value grew by a modest 13.0%, export value dropped by 33.5%. The decline was even more dramatic in volume: export quantities fell by 56.3%, whereas import volumes grew by 29.9%. This indicates a significant loss in EU production and export capacity for these specialized fabrics.
| Metric | 2015 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export Value (€) | 38,053,052 | 25,302,155 | -33.5% |
| Export Quantity (t) | 2,512.5 | 1,097.8 | -56.3% |
| Import Value (€) | 11,892,410 | 13,432,571 | +13.0% |
| Import Quantity (t) | 1,035.8 | 1,345.2 | +29.9% |
| Trade Balance (€) | 26,160,643 | 11,869,585 | -54.6% |
| Data sourced from the General Overview. |
1.2 Unit values reveal divergent trends in pricing power
The divergent volume and value trends led to a notable divergence in unit values (prices). The average export price increased by 52.2% to €23,043 per tonne, suggesting that the EU may have shifted towards higher-value-added product niches or faced cost increases. Conversely, the average import price fell by 12.9% to €9,981 per tonne, potentially indicating increased competition from lower-cost producers.
1.3 The EU's structural dependence on imports has increased
The net import reliance metric, which indicates the extent to which the EU depends on external supply, rose significantly. Although the EU remained a net exporter (value was negative), the reliance measure improved from -18.3% to -8.5% (a 53.7% change), confirming that imports have become proportionally more important to the domestic market. This trend is mirrored in the rising trade intensity and export propensity indices, which suggest the EU market became more globally integrated, albeit with a weaker export position.
2. A Radically Reconfigured Map of Trading Partners
The geographical focus of EU trade in this product segment has shifted dramatically, highlighting changes in global supply chains and regional trade agreements.
2.1 Imports: The rise of Türkiye and the decline of traditional suppliers
The origin of EU imports changed substantially. China remained the top supplier by value in 2025, but its share grew only modestly (+26.9%). The standout development was the surge in imports from Türkiye, which grew by 225.4% to become the second-largest supplier, likely benefiting from its customs union with the EU. Meanwhile, imports from Switzerland and the United States collapsed, dropping by 69.1% and 80.4% respectively, indicating a reshoring or sourcing shift away from these high-cost markets.
| Import Partner | Value 2015 (€) | Value 2025 (€) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 3,210,064 | 4,074,693 | +26.9% |
| United Kingdom | 3,042,066 | 2,790,363 | -8.3% |
| Türkiye | 1,321,765 | 4,301,538 | +225.4% |
| Malaysia | 219,612 | 489,869 | +123.1% |
| Switzerland | 1,608,878 | 497,669 | -69.1% |
| United States | 1,103,993 | 216,918 | -80.4% |
| Data sourced from top partners by value for imports. |
2.2 Exports: Collapse of North African and intra-EU sourcing, rise of Western Balkans
On the export side, the pattern is one of collapse in some markets and growth in others. The most dramatic decline was the near-total disappearance of exports to Tunisia, which fell by 88.7% from €16.9 million to €1.9 million. This was closely followed by exports to Melilla (a Spanish autonomous city in North Africa), which ceased almost entirely. In contrast, exports to the Western Balkans (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Ukraine grew significantly, with Serbia increasing by 408.3%. This suggests a relocation of garment manufacturing and assembly activities closer to the EU, following established nearshoring trends. The concentration of export partners also halved (HHI fell from 2174 to 872), indicating a diversification away from a few dominant partners.
2.3 Internal EU dynamics: Germany consolidated as the export hub
Within the EU, trade in this product became more concentrated in Germany. Germany's share of EU exports grew from €5.1 million (13% of total) to €9.4 million (37% of total), an increase of 85%. Meanwhile, traditional textile powerhouses Italy and France saw their export shares plummet by 57.6% and 78.0% respectively. On the import side, Belgium saw a massive increase in recorded imports (+430.9%), which may reflect its role as a logistics hub within the EU. The data from top EU reporters highlights this centralization of trade flows.
3. Product Segment Evolution and Market Structure
The overall trade decline masks important shifts in the composition of the traded products and the production landscape within the EU.
3.1 A shift from rubber-thread to elastomeric-yarn fabrics in exports
Product code 6002 is split into two subcategories: 600240 (containing ≥5% elastomeric yarn) and 600290 (containing rubber thread only). EU exports saw a structural shift. While exports of 600290 fabrics (rubber thread) collapsed from 1,857 tonnes to 635 tonnes, exports of 600240 fabrics (elastomeric yarn) were more resilient, falling from 655 tonnes to 463 tonnes. In value terms, the high-priced elastomeric yarn products (600240) now constitute the vast majority (83%) of EU exports, up from 48% in 2015. This indicates that EU producers have focused on a more technologically advanced product niche.
3.2 Import patterns mirror this product shift
The evolution in imports tells a complementary story. Import volumes of both segments grew, but the growth was stronger in the elastomeric yarn segment (600240). This aligns with the global trend towards synthetic and high-performance fibers. The product segment breakdown shows the EU is increasingly importing the same high-value product it specializes in exporting, suggesting integrated but competitive global supply chains for this material.
3.3 EU production and specialization concentrated in a few member states
Domestic EU production data (measured in kilograms) shows a decline of 22.4% from 2015 to 2025. The production value fell even more steeply by 28.0%, indicating pressure on margins. The market structure analysis reveals that production and export capability are highly concentrated. Greece, Austria, and Italy are the most specialized producers, with revealed comparative advantages (RCA) of 6.0, 4.1, and 3.9 respectively. This specialization underscores that the decline in EU-wide export performance is not uniform but is particularly acute in countries like France and Austria, despite their historical strengths.
Conclusion
Between 2015 and 2025, the EU's market for narrow elastic knitted fabrics (CN 6002) underwent a profound transformation. The bloc transitioned from a dominant net exporter to a market with a sharply reduced trade surplus, as export volumes fell by over half while imports grew moderately. This shift was driven by a collapse in exports to traditional destinations like Tunisia and Switzerland, coupled with a strategic pivot towards supplying nearby Western Balkan markets. The product itself evolved, with EU exports becoming heavily concentrated in higher-value elastomeric yarn fabrics, a segment that also saw increased import competition. Within the EU, production and trade flows became more centralized in Germany and a few specialized member states like Italy and Greece. Overall, the data points to a market grappling with competitive pressures, leading to a reconfiguration of supply chains towards nearshoring and a narrowing focus on specialized, higher-priced product segments.