Market evolution: Stoves and cookers (CN 7321) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the evolution of EU trade in Stoves, ranges, grates, cookers and similar non-electric domestic appliances of iron or steel (CN 7321) over the period 2015–2025. The product group encompasses a wide range of items, from gas and solid-fuel cooking appliances to heating stoves, barbecues, braziers, and spare parts. The decade under review has seen the EU's position shift from a modest trade surplus to a structural deficit, driven by rising imports — particularly from China — and declining export volumes. Three main dynamics emerge: (1) a decisive swing toward import dependence, (2) a profound reorientation of geographic trade flows, and (3) a shift toward higher-value, lower-volume trade on both sides.

1. From Surplus to Deficit: The Structural Shift in the EU Trade Balance

The EU's trade position reversed dramatically over the decade

At the start of the period, the EU maintained a small trade surplus of €39.1 million in CN 7321 products. By 2025, this had transformed into a deficit of €410.1 million — a swing of nearly €450 million. Net import reliance moved from –12.7% to +7.3%, confirming that the EU became a net importer over this horizon.

Volume declines on both sides masked divergent price trends

Both export and import quantities fell over the period: exports by 47.2% (from 178,564 t to 94,363 t) and imports by 22.6% (from 407,491 t to 315,531 t). However, unit prices surged on both sides — export prices by 65.5% (from €5,537/t to €9,163/t) and import prices by 73.4% (from €2,330/t to €4,040/t). This indicates a market-wide repricing, likely reflecting input cost inflation, supply-chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 energy crisis, as well as a shift toward higher-value product mixes.

The 2021–2022 period represented the sharpest inflection

Import values peaked in 2022 at over €2.0 billion — more than double their 2015 level — driven by a combination of restocking after the pandemic, surging commodity prices, and energy-security concerns boosting demand for non-electric heating appliances. Import volumes also surged to 652,669 t in 2021 before falling sharply. This volatility is consistent with the broader "bullwhip effect" observed across European manufacturing during this period.

2. China's Dominance and the Reorientation of Trade Geography

China consolidated its position as the EU's dominant supplier

Chinese imports grew from €536.0 million in 2015 to €900.9 million in 2025 (+68.1%), peaking at €1,437.9 million in 2022. China's share of EU imports rose correspondingly, and the import concentration index (HHI) for value increased from 3,499 to 5,165 (+47.6%), reflecting growing supplier concentration. This marks a significant vulnerability: the EU's sourcing of non-electric stoves and cookers has become increasingly dependent on a single trading partner.

EU exports shifted away from traditional Western and Eastern partners

The most striking decline in EU exports was to Russia, which fell from €74.2 million to €15.0 million (–79.8%), consistent with the imposition of EU sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Exports to Saudi Arabia also contracted (–47.3%), while shipments to the UK — the EU's single largest export market — declined from €189.7 million to €115.0 million (–39.4%), potentially linked to post-Brexit trade friction.

The US emerged as a key growth market for EU exporters

Against the general downward trend in export volumes, exports to the United States grew by 66.7% in value terms, rising from €74.7 million to €124.6 million. The US thus overtook the UK as the EU's most valuable single export market by 2025, suggesting that American demand for premium European-made stoves and cookers — often associated with design, heritage brands, or energy-efficiency features — proved more resilient than traditional European neighbourhood markets.

Export concentration remained low, indicating diversified destination markets

While import concentration rose sharply, the export HHI stayed below 760 throughout the period (652 in 2025), indicating that EU exporters continued to spread shipments across many partners. This structural difference — high import concentration versus low export concentration — is a notable asymmetry in the market.

3. Production Restructuring, Product Mix, and Volatility

EU production shifted toward higher value with lower volumes

EU domestic production of CN 7321 items fell by 28.4% in quantity (from 11.9 million items to 8.5 million items) but rose by 18.5% in value (from €2.28 billion to €2.70 billion). This divergence suggests that EU manufacturers have moved up the value chain, focusing on premium, higher-margin products while ceding lower-end volume segments to imports — primarily from China.

Italy remained the EU's production and export powerhouse

Italy dominated EU exports with €342.0 million in 2025 (39.6% of total EU exports), down from €475.5 million in 2015. Italy also had the highest revealed comparative advantage among large EU economies, with an RSCA index of 0.45 in 2025, reflecting strong specialisation. Poland emerged as a significant exporter, growing from €90.7 million to €126.4 million (+39.4%), while Germany's exports remained broadly stable at around €95 million.

Gas-fuelled cooking appliances (732111) dominated both trade flows

The largest sub-product by value was 732111 (gas cooking appliances and plate warmers), accounting for the bulk of both import and export values. Import values for this sub-product grew from €444.2 million to €648.2 million, while exports were broadly stable around €418–526 million. Notably, 732189 (solid-fuel stoves and heaters) experienced extreme volatility: import volumes surged to 292,544 t in 2021 before collapsing to 52,278 t in 2025, likely reflecting the energy crisis and the scramble for alternative heating sources.

Price shocks concentrated in 2022 across multiple partner relationships

The volatility analysis reveals significant price shocks in 2022, consistent with the global energy crisis and supply-chain disruptions. The most pronounced events included:

The Taiwan shock, while dramatic in percentage terms, represented only 1.0% of import value. The UK export price shock was more consequential, affecting 21.7% of export value and potentially reflecting post-Brexit cost pass-throughs.

Trade intensity rose, confirming the sector's growing openness

The trade intensity ratio increased from 35.2% to 51.3% (+45.9%), and export propensity rose from 25.7% to 31.9%. This means that EU production is increasingly oriented toward international markets, while EU consumption is increasingly satisfied by imports. The sector has become materially more integrated into global trade over the decade.

Conclusion

The EU market for non-electric stoves, cookers, and related iron/steel appliances has undergone a structural transformation between 2015 and 2025. The shift from a modest surplus to a substantial deficit reflects the combined effect of China's growing dominance in lower-to-mid-range product segments, declining EU export volumes to traditional partners (notably Russia and the UK), and a reorientation of EU production toward higher-value items. The 2021–2022 energy crisis introduced acute volatility, temporarily boosting demand for solid-fuel appliances and causing sharp price spikes. Looking ahead, the EU's growing import concentration — with China accounting for the majority of inbound trade — presents a strategic vulnerability, even as the EU's own export base remains diversified. The ongoing shift toward premiumisation in EU production suggests that European manufacturers are competing on quality rather than cost, a strategy whose sustainability will depend on continued demand from affluent markets such as the US and Switzerland.