Market evolution: Other screws and bolts (CN 73181595) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyses the trade dynamics of the European Union in screws and bolts classified under customs code 73181595 for the period 2015 to 2025. The product covers a wide range of iron or steel screws and bolts with specific head types, excluding common variants like hexagonal heads or wood screws. The analysis is based on official EU trade data, focusing on flows with non-EU countries. Despite the requested period, available data covers the years 2017 to 2025. The EU is a major global producer and trader of these fasteners, but the market has undergone significant price-driven transformations and strategic shifts in sourcing.

1. A Decade of Price-Driven Growth Amidst Stagnant Volumes

The overall value of EU trade in these screws and bolts grew substantially between 2017 and 2025. However, this headline growth was almost entirely driven by rising unit prices, while physical trade volumes remained largely flat, indicating a fundamental shift in the market's economics.

1.1. Exports Surge in Value, Not Volume

EU exports of CN 73181595 grew by 24.5% in value from the first to the last available period, reaching €1.13 billion. Yet, over the same timeframe, the exported quantity declined by 16.4% to approximately 129,000 tonnes. This divergence is explained by a sharp 49.0% increase in the average export price, from €5,880 per tonne to €8,759 per tonne. This suggests EU exporters successfully moved towards higher-value products or that inflationary pressures significantly impacted the sector.

1.2. Imports Follow a Similar, Though Less Pronounced, Trend

EU imports followed a comparable pattern but with more moderate price increases. The total import value rose by 24.3% to €773.9 million. Import volume grew modestly by 7.2% to 132,706 tonnes. The import price per tonne increased by 15.9% from €5,029 to €5,830. The persistent price gap between imports and exports underscores the EU's position as a supplier of higher-specification fasteners.

1.3. The EU's Consistent Trade Surplus Reflects High-Value Specialization

The EU has maintained a robust trade surplus in this product category throughout the period. The surplus grew by 25.0% to reach €353.7 million in the final period. This structural surplus, combined with the higher export prices, highlights the competitive advantage of the EU's fastener industry in producing specialized, higher-margin bolts and screws.

2. Shifting Partners and Production: Diversification and Domestic Resilience

The landscape of EU trading partners for these fasteners has evolved, with emerging economies gaining significant market share on the import side. Concurrently, EU production has shown resilience, though trade remains highly concentrated among a few key member states.

2.1. The Rise of Türkiye and Emerging Importers

While Taiwan remained the top supplier throughout the period, the most dramatic growth in EU imports by value came from Türkiye (+215.9%) and India (+151.6%). China's share also grew substantially (+52.4%). This points to a diversification of the EU's supply chain away from traditional Asian sources towards closer regional suppliers (Türkiye) and other competitive manufacturing hubs.

2.2. Export Markets: The United States Becomes Key Growth Driver

On the export side, the United States has become the most important growth market, with EU exports rising by 95.7% to €280.7 million. Other significant growth was recorded in Mexico (+62.1%) and Türkiye (+79.5%). Conversely, exports to China, the largest single market, declined by 19.2%, potentially reflecting increased local competition or shifting demand.

2.3. Market Concentration and Specialization

The concentration of imports (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index) decreased by 14.9%, indicating a more diversified supplier base. Within the EU, production of these fasteners grew, with output value increasing by 27.7% to €1.97 billion. Germany and Italy are the dominant producing and exporting nations, with Italy showing the highest relative specialization (RCA of 4.26).

3. Volatility, Strategic Dependencies, and Autonomy

The fastener market is subject to significant price volatility from certain partners, which influences the EU's strategic assessment of its trade vulnerability. Overall, the EU exhibits a high degree of trade intensity and maintains a negative net import reliance, confirming its net exporter status.

3.1. Price Volatility Highlights Key Supplier Risks

Analysis of trade volatility shows that import flows from some partners are highly unpredictable. For instance, the coefficient of variation for imports from the United Kingdom is 0.44, and from the United States is 0.38. On the export side, shipments to the Russian Federation (0.74) and Norway (0.46) show high variability, which can be linked to geopolitical or economic shocks.

3.2. The EU's Net Exporter Status Remains Strong

The net import reliance metric consistently shows a negative value (around -26.8% in 2025), confirming that the EU is a net exporter of CN 73181595 fasteners to the world. This reliance measure worsened (became more negative) by 19.1% over the period, reinforcing the EU's strong external position.

3.3. High Trade Intensity Reflects an Integrated Global Market

The trade intensity for this product is very high, hovering near 70%. This means that a large proportion of the EU's domestic production is traded internationally. This high degree of integration underscores the sector's dependency on open global supply chains and stable international demand.

Conclusion

The EU market for screws and bolts (CN 73181595) between 2017 and 2025 was characterized by robust value growth powered by significant price inflation rather than volume expansion. The EU solidified its position as a high-value net exporter, leveraging specialized production in member states like Italy and Germany. A key trend was the strategic diversification of import sources, with Türkiye emerging as a major supplier. While the EU's overall net exporter status and domestic production capacity provide a buffer, the market remains vulnerable to price volatility from key partners and is deeply intertwined with global trade flows. The period demonstrates an industry adapting to cost pressures while navigating a shifting landscape of international competition.