Market evolution: Straw and plaiting manufactures (CN 46) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the evolution of European Union trade in CN 46, covering manufactures of straw, esparto and other plaiting materials, basketware and wickerwork over the period 2015–2025. The sector encompasses two main product lines: subheading 4601 (plaits, mats and flat-woven materials) and subheading 4602 (basketwork, wickerwork and finished articles). Despite being a niche segment of EU external trade, the market reveals notable structural shifts over the decade—including a dramatic surge in EU export values, geographic diversification of suppliers, and a clear trend towards higher-value products.

1. A Decade of Asymmetric Growth: Exports Surge While Import Dependency Persists

EU exports grew more than fivefold in value, far outpacing imports

The most striking feature of the 2015–2025 period is the divergence between import and export growth trajectories. While EU imports grew by 43.4% in value (from €382 million to €549 million) and 33.0% in volume, EU exports expanded by 303.3% in value—from a modest €42.5 million in 2015 to €171.4 million in 2025—while volumes rose only 16.2%. This points to a fundamental transformation in the nature of EU exports: the bloc is shipping roughly the same tonnage but at substantially higher prices.

The trade deficit widened, but EU export competitiveness improved markedly

The EU's net trade balance in CN 46 deteriorated slightly from –€340 million to –€377 million (–10.9%). However, the structural story is more nuanced. Net import reliance remained persistently high at around 89%, confirming that the EU remains structurally dependent on external suppliers for this product category. Domestic production volumes remained essentially flat (approximately 20 million kg), with production value rising modestly by 19.1% to €48 million. Yet the explosion in export value signals that EU firms have carved out a position in higher-value market niches.

Export price divergence reveals a premiumization strategy

The price differential between EU exports and imports tells a compelling story. In 2015, the EU exported at €4,588/t versus importing at €3,417/t—a modest 34% premium. By 2025, the export price had climbed to €15,918/t, more than four times the import price of €3,685/t. This widening gap suggests that EU exporters increasingly focus on designer, artisanal, or specialty products, while mass-market basketware continues to be sourced from low-cost Asian producers.

2. Shifting Geographic Landscape: Asia Dominates Imports, New Partners Emerge

China remains the leading supplier but has lost market share

China was and remains the EU's dominant import partner for CN 46, accounting for €254 million in 2015 and €289 million in 2025 (+13.8%). However, China's share eroded significantly as other suppliers expanded more rapidly. Notably, Chinese import values peaked at €443 million in 2022 before retreating—a dynamic linked to the price shock detected that year. The concentration of imports from China (by HHI) fell from 4,708 to 3,262 (–30.7%), confirming meaningful diversification away from a single-dominant-supplier model.

Southeast Asian and African suppliers posted the fastest growth rates

Several suppliers dramatically expanded their EU market presence over the decade:

Madagascar and Bangladesh stand out as the fastest-growing origins, both more than sextupling their exports to the EU. This likely reflects EU buyers seeking cost diversification and benefiting from trade preferences (e.g., Everything But Arms for least-developed countries). Ukraine's emergence, though from a tiny base, may reflect broader geopolitical and trade-access developments.

EU exports pivoted decisively towards the United States

On the export side, the United States emerged as a dominant destination, with EU shipments surging from €1.4 million to €37.4 million (+2,495%). By 2025, the US absorbed nearly 22% of EU CN 46 exports—up from a negligible share a decade earlier. The United Kingdom (+135.6% to €24.0 million), Switzerland (+85.9% to €17.3 million), and Türkiye (+705.8% to €7.2 million) also grew strongly. Meanwhile, exports to Tunisia collapsed by 82.4%, reflecting a reorientation away from North African re-export or processing arrangements.

Italy, France, and Spain drove the EU export surge

Among EU Member States, Italy recorded the most spectacular growth in exports—from €1.8 million to €49.2 million (+2,650%)—making it the EU's largest exporter of CN 46 by 2025. France (+393.8% to €37.5 million) and Spain (+729.0% to €26.3 million) followed. These three Mediterranean countries, with strong traditions in artisanal crafts and design, appear to be the engines of the EU's export renaissance in this sector.

3. Product-Level Dynamics: Finished Goods Lead the Transformation

Basketware (4602) dominates both imports and exports by value

The product segment breakdown reveals that subheading 4602 (basketwork, wickerwork and other finished articles) accounts for the overwhelming majority of trade flows. In 2025, 4602 represented €446.7 million of imports (81% of total CN 46 import value) and €155.5 million of exports (91% of export value). Subheading 4601 (plaits, mats, flat-woven materials) was smaller but still significant at €94.2 million in imports and €15.8 million in exports.

Export prices for 4602 quintupled, confirming the premiumization trend

The unit value trajectory for 4602 exports is remarkable:

This represents a 408% increase over the decade—far exceeding general inflation and consistent with a shift towards higher-specification, design-led, or bespoke basketware products. By contrast, 4601 export prices were more volatile and only rose 16% overall (from €4,819/t to €4,061/t), suggesting this subheading remains more of a commodity market.

Import prices spiked in 2022, reflecting global supply-chain disruptions

Across both subheadings, import prices peaked sharply in 2022: 4602 reached €6,480/t (up 23% from 2021) and 4601 hit €2,397/t (up 33%). This aligns with the detected price shock for Chinese imports in 2022, which showed an abnormality score of 2.9 and a 45.4% price shift. Given China's dominant role (67.8% of import value at the time), this shock rippled through the entire import basket. Prices subsequently moderated in 2023–2025, though they remained above pre-pandemic levels.

Conclusion

The EU's trade in CN 46 over 2015–2025 tells a story of a sector undergoing quiet but significant structural transformation. The Union remains heavily import-dependent—net import reliance stood at 89% in 2025, unchanged from a decade earlier—and China continues to dominate the supply side, though with a reduced share as Madagascar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and others have emerged as credible alternatives.

The most dramatic change, however, is on the export side. EU exports of straw and plaiting manufactures grew over 300% in value while volumes barely moved, indicating a decisive shift upmarket. Italy, France, and Spain have led this repositioning, channelling design expertise and artisanal heritage into high-value basketware destined primarily for the United States and the United Kingdom. The export price for 4602 products reaching €22,651 per tonne—more than six times the import price—underscores the degree to which EU producers have differentiated themselves from the mass-market competition.

Looking ahead, the sector faces several watchpoints: continued diversification of Asian supply chains, potential exposure to trade-policy shocks (particularly for the rapidly growing US market), and the question of whether the remarkable export-price trajectory can be sustained as volumes grow.