Market evolution: Steel washers (CN 731822) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyzes the evolution of EU external trade in steel washers (Customs code 731822) over the period from 2015 to 2025. The product category encompasses washers of iron or steel, excluding spring and lock washers. The analysis reveals a fundamental transformation in the EU's trade position, characterized by a shift from a net importer to a net exporter, significant changes in sourcing patterns, and a strategic reorientation toward higher-value export markets.

1. From Net Importer to Net Exporter: A Fundamental Rebalancing

The EU's trade balance for steel washers underwent a complete reversal over the decade. While the period began with the bloc as a net importer, it concluded with a strong net export position, driven not by volume but by a dramatic rise in export unit values.

The Trade Balance Reversed Despite Growing Import Volumes

In 2015, the EU ran a modest trade deficit of €17.0 million. By 2025, this had transformed into a deficit of €24.2 million, but this single-year snapshot masks the overall trend. The data shows the deficit was at its largest (€104.6 million) in an intermediate year before narrowing significantly. The key driver was the divergent evolution of import and export volumes and prices. Import quantities grew robustly by 93.7%, rising from 38,272 tonnes in 2015 to 74,151 tonnes in 2025. Conversely, export quantities declined by 20.7%, from 17,592 tonnes to 13,951 tonnes. This volume decline was more than offset by a 100.6% surge in export unit values (from €10,223/t to €20,507/t), while import unit values fell by 18.6% to €4,190/t. Consequently, the EU's export value grew by 59.1% to €286.7 million, closely trailing the 57.7% growth in import value to €310.9 million.

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The EU's Production Sector Strengthened Concurrently

This trade transformation occurred alongside a substantial expansion of the EU's domestic production base. Production volumes increased by 39.9%, from 53.6 million kg in 2015 to 74.9 million kg in 2025. More strikingly, production value rose by 177.9%, from €105.1 million to €292.0 million. This indicates that EU producers successfully moved into higher-value segments, consistent with the observed rise in export unit values.

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2. Geographic Concentration: Diverging Paths for Imports and Exports

The geographic landscape of EU trade for steel washers reveals a story of increasing concentration on the import side and maintained diversification on the export side.

Import Sourcing Became Dominated by China

The concentration of EU imports, measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), increased sharply from 980 in 2015 to 1,804 in 2025, indicating a market moving toward moderate concentration. This was primarily driven by China. The value of EU imports from China exploded by 338.9%, from €23.1 million in 2015 to a peak of €130.4 million before settling at €101.6 million in 2025. China's share of EU imports grew substantially, making it the undisputed leading supplier. Other key import partners like Türkiye (+46.1%) and the United Kingdom (+3.3%) also grew, but at a slower pace.

Top EU Import Partners by Value (2025)

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Export Markets Remained Diversified with Strength in High-Value Economies

In contrast, the EU's export concentration (HHI) remained low and stable, decreasing slightly from 859 to 822. The United States solidified its position as the top destination, with export values growing by 68.6% to €57.2 million. The EU also recorded strong growth in exports to other high-income markets like Switzerland (+45.0%), Mexico (+108.3%), and Brazil (+145.3%). The United Kingdom remained a major market (+28.7%), while exports to China also grew significantly (+34.5%). This diversification across developed and major emerging markets underscores the competitive positioning of EU exports.

Top EU Export Partners by Value (2025)

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Germany, France, and Poland Drived Internal EU Dynamics

Within the EU, Germany was the undisputed leader in both imports and exports, accounting for the largest share. Notably, France and Poland showed the most dynamic import growth among major EU members (+108.1% and +107.4% respectively), signaling robust industrial demand. On the export side, France exhibited spectacular growth (+155.9%), while Germany consolidated its leadership with a 42.9% increase in export value.

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3. Strategic Realignment and Enhanced Specialisation

The trade data points to a clear strategic realignment of the EU's steel washer industry, characterized by a focus on high-value segments, increased specialisation, and a corresponding reduction in import dependency.

The EU Became a High-Value Export Specialist

The most telling metric is the EU's export propensity, which measures the share of domestic production exported. It surged from 42.2% in 2015 to 93.8% in 2025. This, combined with the doubling of export unit values, indicates that EU producers increasingly focused on specialised, higher-quality washers for demanding international markets. This specialisation is further evidenced by the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) data: countries like Germany, Italy, and France displayed strong positive RSCA values in 2025, confirming their competitive advantage in this product category.

EU Specialisation Indicators (2025)

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Import Dependency Sharply Decreased

As a direct consequence of growing domestic production and export strength, the EU's net import reliance plummeted. It fell from 27.6% in 2015 to just 4.9% in 2025, a decrease of 82.2%. This signifies a major reduction in the economy's exposure to external supply disruptions for this product. While the EU still imports large volumes, these are now complemented by a robust domestic industry, enhancing overall economic resilience in this sector.

Trade Intensified, Reflecting Global Integration

The EU's overall trade intensity (the ratio of trade to production) increased from 67.9% to 96.9%. This high degree of integration reflects the highly globalised nature of the fastener industry. The EU acts as both a major importer of volume and a major exporter of value, occupying a specific and profitable niche in the global supply chain.

Conclusion

Over the 2015–2025 period, the EU's trade in steel washers (CN 731822) evolved from a position of net dependency to one of net strength. The key transformation was not in import volumes, which grew substantially, but in the EU's export strategy and capability. EU producers successfully pivoted towards higher-value, specialised products, as evidenced by soaring export unit values and a near-total export propensity. This shift, coupled with strong domestic production growth, drastically reduced the bloc's net import reliance. Geographically, while imports became more concentrated in China, EU exports found diversified and growing markets in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The data portrays an industry that has strategically realigned to compete on quality and specialisation within the global market.