Market evolution: Plastic tubing (CN 391732) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyses the EU's trade in flexible plastic tubes, pipes, and hoses (CN 391732) over the period 2015–2025. The analysis reveals a market characterised by robust export-led growth, a significant deepening of the trade surplus, and a major reorientation of trade flows, particularly towards Turkey and the United States, alongside a marked rise in unit values. These dynamics underscore the EU's strengthening position as a net exporter in this product segment.

1. Robust and sustained growth in EU export performance

The decade saw a strong expansion of the EU's external trade in this product category, with exports consistently outpacing imports in growth, leading to a much larger trade surplus.

1.1 EU exports surge in value, driven by both volume and price increases

EU exports of CN 391732 grew substantially between 2015 and 2025. The total export value nearly doubled, rising by 86.0% from €554 million to €1.03 billion (General Overview). This expansion was fuelled by both higher export volumes, which increased by 32.8% (from 78,449 tonnes to 104,158 tonnes), and a significant rise in export unit prices, which climbed 40.1% (from €7,062 to €9,896 per tonne).

1.2 The EU's trade surplus in this sector more than doubles

As a result of strong export growth, the EU's trade balance for CN 391732 improved dramatically. The surplus more than doubled, increasing by 106.1% from €266 million in 2015 to €548 million in 2025 (General Overview). This highlights the EU's role as a major net exporter in the global market for this flexible plastic tubing.

2. A fundamental reorientation of key trading partnerships

The geographic pattern of EU trade underwent a significant shift, with some partners seeing explosive growth while others, notably Russia, saw trade collapse.

2.1 Turkey emerges as the EU's paramount export growth partner

The most dramatic change in the EU's export portfolio was the surge in sales to Turkey. The value of EU exports to Turkey grew by an extraordinary 276.5%, from €30 million to €113 million, making it the third-largest export destination by 2025. This strong growth is accompanied by relatively high volatility in this trade flow, with a coefficient of variation of 0.44 (Volatility & Shocks).

2.2 Trade with Russia is severed, while the US and UK remain core, stable partners

Geopolitical events are starkly reflected in the data. EU exports to Russia plummeted by 99.6% (from €37 million to €0.16 million), while imports fell to virtually zero. In contrast, the United States and the United Kingdom remained cornerstone partners. Exports to the US grew by 105.0% (to €147 million), and to the UK by 17.7% (to €69 million). Both partnerships exhibit relatively low volatility (coefficients of variation of 0.18 and 0.15, respectively), indicating stable, established trade relationships (Volatility & Shocks).

2.3 The EU's import landscape becomes more concentrated and sees rising unit values

On the import side, the United States solidified its position as the top supplier, with import value growing 88.2% to €200 million. However, the most notable trend was the 171.5% growth in imports from China, which rose from €26 million to €70 million. Meanwhile, the unit price for EU imports increased sharply by 40.9% (from €9,929 to €13,988 per tonne), a higher rise than for exports, suggesting changes in the composition or sourcing costs of imported tubing.

3. Strengthening EU industrial competitiveness and integration

Underlying the trade dynamics are signs of a strengthening EU production base and increasing global market integration for this product.

3.1 EU production of plastic tubing has expanded significantly

The growth in exports is supported by a major expansion in the EU's domestic production capacity. Production volume in the EU (as measured by PRODCOM) more than doubled, increasing by 109.9% from 325,069 tonnes to 682,469 tonnes over the period (Market Structure). The value of production grew even faster (135.0%), indicating a shift towards higher-value output.

3.2 The EU has become a more export-oriented producer

As production expanded, a greater share of it was destined for export markets. The EU's export propensity (exports as a percentage of production) nearly doubled, rising from 22.6% to 42.2% (Autonomy & Vulnerability). Concurrently, the net import reliance (imports minus exports as a share of apparent consumption) shifted from a slight negative value (-7.1%) to a strong negative value (-31.3%), further confirming the EU's status as a net exporter whose surplus is growing relative to its home market (Autonomy & Vulnerability).

3.3 Price shocks emerged in 2022, linked to Mediterranean partners

The volatility analysis identifies specific price shocks in 2022. Notably, export prices to Morocco and Tunisia saw abnormal increases of 55.3% and 30.6%, respectively, with high abnormality scores (Volatility & Shocks). A significant import price shock (50.4% increase) was also detected for tubing sourced from Turkey in the same year. These events point to supply chain or demand pressures in that specific year.

Conclusion

Over the 2015–2025 decade, the EU's market for flexible plastic tubing (CN 391732) underwent a profound transformation. The bloc evolved into a more powerful and export-oriented industrial player, significantly boosting both its production volume and its global export footprint. Trade flows were reshaped by geopolitical shifts, most visibly the cessation of trade with Russia and the dramatic rise of Turkey as a key export market. The sustained growth in both the volume and value of exports, coupled with a doubling of the trade surplus, demonstrates a competitive and expanding EU industry in this segment. The market also exhibited growing price pressures and specific volatility, with notable shocks occurring in 2022.