Market evolution: Other spirits (CN 220890) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyzes the trade evolution of EU trade in "other spirits" under Combined Nomenclature (CN) code 220890 over the period 2015–2025. This residual category covers a diverse range of ethyl alcohols and spirituous beverages not classified under more specific codes like whisky, rum, vodka, or liqueurs. The analysis reveals a period of extraordinary growth, significant geographic reorientation, and underlying structural shifts, characterized by increasing product sophistication and persistent trade volatility.

A Decade of Remarkable Growth in EU External Trade

The EU's trade in CN 220890 products with non-EU countries expanded dramatically over the period, with both exports and imports scaling to unprecedented levels by 2025.

Export Expansion Outpaced Import Growth

The value of EU exports surged from €352.7 million in 2015 to €1.107 billion in 2025, an increase of 214.0%. Export volumes grew comparably, rising from 148,844 tonnes to 453,491 tonnes (+204.7%). The EU's trade balance in this category also strengthened significantly, moving from a surplus of €178.2 million in 2015 to €536.5 million in 2025 (+201.1%). This demonstrates the EU's strong and growing competitive position as a net exporter in this diverse spirits category.

Imports Also Recorded Strong Gains

Imports followed a similar, albeit slightly more moderate, trajectory. The value of imports grew from €174.6 million to €571.0 million (+227.1%), while quantities increased from 40,840 tonnes to 116,550 tonnes (+185.4%). The General Overview shows that the average unit price for imports remained consistently higher than for exports, indicating the EU imports higher-value products on a per-tonne or per-litre basis.

Geographic Reorientation and Product Diversification

The rapid trade growth was driven by a profound shift in the geographic landscape of both the EU's export destinations and import sources, alongside a diversification within the traded product mix.

The Americas Rise to Prominence in EU Imports

The top partners by import value reveal a dramatic surge in shipments from the Americas. Imports from Mexico grew from €49.7 million to €225.2 million (+353.5%), while those from the United States exploded from €2.3 million to €121.0 million (+5167.8%). This points to a massive increase in EU demand for American spirits, likely dominated by tequila and other niche spirits within this code. The United Kingdom remained the top single import partner, growing by 77.8%, but its relative share diminished as the Americas captured market share.

EU Exports Find New High-Growth Markets

EU exports became increasingly diversified, with particularly strong growth in the Philippines and West Africa. The value of exports to the Philippines grew from €21.6 million to €146.3 million (+578.7%). Similarly, exports to Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria grew by 3724.5% and 183.5%, respectively, indicating a major expansion into new, dynamic consumer markets. The United States and United Kingdom remained the largest single-country destinations, with growth of 385.7% and 211.3%. The top partners by export value data confirms this broadening of export horizons.

Tequila and Spirituous Beverages Drive the Trade Composition

A product segment breakdown highlights the key subcategories. On the import side, tequila (both in small and large containers) and "spirituous beverages" (CN 22089069/78) were the primary growth drivers. For instance, imports of tequila in containers ≤2L (CN 22089054) rose in value from €32.2 million to €182.3 million. On the export side, the dominant category was "spirituous beverages in containers ≤2L" (CN 22089069), which saw its value increase from €238.6 million to €852.5 million, accounting for the majority of export value by 2025.

Volatility, Price Shocks, and Structural Shifts

Beneath the strong growth trend, the period was marked by significant price volatility, notable supply shocks, and a structural shift towards higher-value production within the EU.

High Volatility with Notable Price Shocks

Trade flows, particularly with the United States, exhibited considerable volatility. The coefficient of variation for exports to the US was 0.67, indicating substantial year-on-year fluctuation. A significant price shock was detected in 2022, where the average export price to the US surged by 68.9%, likely reflecting post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, tariff changes, or a compositional shift to more premium products.

The EU Specialises in Higher-Value Production

While EU production volume (in litres of pure alcohol) saw a slight decline of -6.1% over the period, production value soared by 77.9% to €6.78 billion. This decoupling signals a clear move up the value chain, focusing on higher-margin spirits within this broad category. Analysis of specialisation confirms that countries like Italy, Greece, and Latvia are key specialised exporters, while large economies like Germany and France have significant but less specialised trade.

Export Market Concentration Remains Low

Despite the geographic shifts, the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for EU exports remained below 1000 throughout the period (e.g., 840.4 in 2025), indicating a low level of concentration. This diversification mitigates dependency risks. In contrast, import concentration was higher (HHI of 2353.3 in 2025), reflecting the growing dominance of a few key suppliers like Mexico.

Conclusion

The EU market for "other spirits" (CN 220890) experienced a decade of transformative growth from 2015 to 2025, underpinned by a doubling of export volumes and a tripling of import values. This expansion was fueled by a strategic pivot towards high-growth markets in the Americas and the Global South for exports, and a corresponding surge in demand for specific imports like tequila. While the period featured notable price volatility and supply shocks, particularly with the United States, the underlying structural trends point to a successful move by the EU industry towards higher-value production. The EU solidified its role as a major, diversified net exporter, though it also became more reliant on specific external suppliers for key product segments.