Market evolution: Other adhesives (CN 35069190) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyzes the evolution of EU trade in polymer and rubber-based adhesives (CN code 35069190) between 2017 and 2025. The product category is a key industrial input, and its trade patterns reflect broader shifts in European manufacturing, supply chains, and global competitiveness. The data reveals a dynamic market characterized by strong export growth, a widening trade surplus, significant price inflation, and evolving trade partnerships, all underpinned by a robust and increasingly specialized EU production base.

The EU's Ascendancy as a Net Exporter

Over the period, the European Union solidified its position as a major net exporter of polymer-based adhesives, with its trade surplus expanding significantly. This growth was driven more by rising export values than by volume increases, indicating successful price positioning and a move towards higher-value products.

The EU's trade surplus in this sector grew from approximately €567 million in 2017 to over €800 million by 2025, a 41% increase. This expansion was primarily fueled by exports, whose value rose by 37.8% to over €1.3 billion. Import values also grew, by 32.8% to €501 million, but at a slightly slower pace than exports, thus widening the surplus. Crucially, the increase in export value (+37.8%) substantially outpaced the growth in export volume (+6.8%), pointing to significant price inflation for EU-produced adhesives. Similarly, import prices rose, but less steeply (9.6% vs. 21.1% volume increase), which suggests domestic EU demand remained robust even as prices climbed.

Trade Balance of CN 35069190 for the EU (2017-2025)

View the complete trade overview

Diversifying Partners and Converging Price Trends

The geographic landscape of EU trade in these adhesives underwent a notable transformation, marked by increased partner diversification on the import side and the strategic importance of Asian markets for exports. Meanwhile, the gap between export and import prices narrowed, reflecting broader global cost pressures.

On the import side, while Switzerland remained the leading supplier, its share diminished as EU imports became more diversified. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import concentration fell sharply by 33.7%, indicating a move away from reliance on a few key partners. This diversification was driven by dramatic increases in imports from China (+708%), South Korea (+759%), and Türkiye (+209%), which grew from minor sources to significant suppliers. In contrast, imports from the United States declined by 35.6%.

For exports, the top destination remained the United Kingdom, but the most notable growth was directed towards Asia. Exports to China surged by 85.8% to become the second-largest destination by value, and exports to the United States also grew strongly (+70.8%). Russia, previously a major market, saw exports fall by 29.1% over the period. A subtle but important trend is the convergence in unit prices. The EU's average export price rose by 29.0% (to €4,074/t), while its average import price increased by only 9.6% (to €3,655/t). This shrinking price gap—from a difference of €176/t in 2017 to just €419/t in 2025—may reflect global inflation in chemical inputs and logistics, affecting both import and export costs.

Top 5 Trade Partners by Value (2017 & 2025)

Explore trade by partner

Structural Strength and Specialization Within the EU

The EU's strong export performance is built upon a large, valuable, and highly specialized domestic production base, led by Germany. The internal market structure shows a clear core-periphery dynamic, with a few Western European economies driving innovation and output, while trade intensity and export orientation have markedly increased.

The EU's production of these adhesives is substantial and grew in value by 75.7% over the available period, reaching an estimated €5.78 billion. This production is heavily concentrated: Germany alone accounts for over 21% of EU exports and holds a revealed symmetric comparative advantage (RSCA) of 0.35, confirming its role as a specialized exporter. France, Italy, Hungary, and Belgium are also specialized, while many newer EU member states and Ireland show negative specialization, indicating they are more often importers or traders in this segment.

This internal strength is reflected in the EU's growing trade orientation. Both trade intensity (the sum of imports and exports relative to production) and export propensity (exports as a share of production) have increased significantly. By 2025, the EU exported nearly 36% of its production output, up from 20% in 2017—a testament to the sector's competitiveness in global markets.

EU Production and Specialization (2017 vs. 2025)

View specialization and concentration

Conclusion

The EU market for polymer-based adhesives (CN 35069190) demonstrated strong vitality and increasing competitiveness between 2017 and 2025. The bloc successfully expanded its trade surplus by growing exports more rapidly than imports, with a pronounced shift towards higher-value shipments. Trade flows diversified, reducing dependency on single import sources and capitalizing on fast-growing demand in Asian markets, notably China. Internally, the sector is anchored by a productive and highly specialized industrial core in Western Europe, led by Germany, which has enabled the EU to become a larger and more net-reliant exporter. Price inflation was a cross-cutting theme, affecting both sides of the trade ledger but particularly boosting the unit value of EU exports. While geopolitical shifts, such as reduced exports to Russia, are visible, the overall trajectory points to a resilient and increasingly outward-looking European adhesive industry.