Market evolution: Umbrellas and walking sticks (CN 66) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyzes the trade dynamics of the European Union in customs code 66—covering umbrellas, walking sticks, and related products—over the period from 2015 to 2025. The analysis is based on yearly trade data, excluding incomplete periods. The EU market for these products exhibits a persistent and substantial trade deficit, driven by heavy reliance on imports, particularly from China. However, the period reveals significant trends including price inflation, shifting supplier landscapes, and an evolving export profile. The following sections explore the overall trade balance, the structure of import partnerships, and the underlying price and volatility trends that define this market.

1. A Resilient Deficit: Stable Import Volumes with Escalating Values

The EU's trade in umbrellas and related goods is characterized by a consistent and significant structural deficit. While the physical volume of trade has fluctuated, the monetary value of this deficit has expanded considerably.

1.1 The trade balance deepens despite stable import volumes

Over the decade, the EU's total import value grew by 21.5%, from €577.2 million in 2015 to €701.2 million in 2025. Conversely, exports grew by 18.2%, from €89.5 million to €105.8 million. This disparity caused the trade deficit to widen from €487.7 million to €595.3 million, a 22.1% increase. The deficit's peak was in 2022 at €854.4 million, coinciding with a surge in import values. Notably, while import quantities (by weight) grew by 19.8%, export quantities fell by 2.0%, indicating that the EU is importing more physical goods but exporting fewer, reinforcing the structural imbalance. For a detailed view, see the overall trade evolution.

1.2 Price inflation explains the value growth

The increase in trade values is largely attributable to rising unit prices rather than volumetric expansion. Import prices (in EUR per tonne) increased only marginally, by 1.4%, from €3,631 to €3,681. In contrast, export prices surged by 20.6%, from €7,773 to €9,377 per tonne. This significant export price inflation suggests a potential shift in the EU's export basket towards higher-value or specialized products. The price differentials are even more pronounced at the product segment level, as detailed in Section 3.

2. Supplier Diversification and Persistent Concentration

The import side of the market is dominated by China, but the data shows a gradual, though limited, diversification of sourcing. The export market is far more fragmented.

2.1 China remains the overwhelming supplier, but its share faces slight erosion

China was the source of 88.6% of EU import value in 2015 (€511.1M) and remained dominant in 2025 at 88.1% (€618.1M), growing by 20.9%. However, its market share shows a marginal decline. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for imports, a measure of concentration, was 7,859 in 2015 and 7,833 in 2025, indicating a persistently highly concentrated import market with minimal diversification. This high concentration, coupled with China's low volatility (Coefficient of Variation of 0.16), underscores a stable but vulnerable supply chain.

2.2 Emerging alternative suppliers gain traction

While China's dominance is stable, several other partners have significantly increased their shipments to the EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced explosive growth, with imports rising by 369.4% from €3.3 million to €15.6 million, increasing its share from 0.6% to 2.2%. Türkiye and Viet Nam also more than doubled their exports to the EU. Meanwhile, traditional partners like Switzerland and Hong Kong saw declines. This trend indicates a nascent, though still small, effort to diversify supply chains. Explore the partner concentration dynamics.

2.3 EU exports are diversified, with the UK and Switzerland as key markets

The EU's export market is much less concentrated, with an HHI of 1,038 in 2025. The United Kingdom and Switzerland are the primary destinations, together accounting for 40% of export value in 2025. Notably, exports to Switzerland grew strongly by 31.9%, while those to the UK remained nearly flat (-0.2%). Significant growth was also recorded for Norway (+68.5%), Serbia (+114.8%), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (+191.0%), the latter being both a growing import source and export destination for the EU, suggesting integrated regional trade flows. See the export partner breakdown.

3. Price Dynamics and Value-Added Shift

Beneath the aggregate figures, the product segment breakdown reveals divergent price trends between subcategories, highlighting a potential shift in the EU's competitive position.

3.1 Umbrella imports and exports show different price trajectories

The largest segment, umbrellas (CN 6601), saw import prices (EUR per tonne) fluctuate, rising from €4,422 in 2015 to a peak of €5,206 in 2022 before settling at €4,522 in 2025, a net increase of 2.3%. In contrast, the price per exported umbrella surged from €10,125 to €12,704 (+25.5%). This widening price gap (export price now nearly 2.8x the import price) suggests the EU may be exporting more premium, branded, or niche umbrella products while importing standard ones.

3.2 Parts and accessories exhibit extreme export price inflation

The most dramatic shift occurred in parts and accessories (CN 6603). Import prices for parts were volatile but ended 1% below 2015 levels (€1,135 to €1,129). However, export prices for parts skyrocketed by 24.9%, from €2,307 to €2,884. This indicates a possible specialization within the EU in manufacturing or trading higher-value components for the global market. The value of exported parts grew significantly, from €10.9 million to €14.4 million, despite relatively stable volumes.

3.3 Walking sticks and the like are a high-value niche

Walking sticks, seat-sticks, etc. (CN 6602) represent a small volume but high value segment. Import prices are already high (€12,484 in 2015, €15,035 in 2025, +20.4%). Export prices are exceptionally elevated and have grown dramatically, surging by 64.5% from €37,949 to €57,953 per tonne. This explosive price growth, coupled with a decline in exported quantity from 359 to 253 tonnes, strongly points to a repositioning of EU exports in this category towards highly crafted, artisanal, or luxury products. Detailed segment data can be viewed in the product comparison.

Conclusion

The EU market for umbrellas and walking sticks between 2015 and 2025 is defined by three core narratives. First, a persistent structural trade deficit widened by over 22%, driven by growing import values and stable or declining export volumes, underscoring the EU's role as a net consumer in this sector. Second, the import market remains heavily concentrated on China, though there are signs of modest diversification towards partners like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Türkiye. On the export side, the market is more fragmented, with Switzerland and the UK as anchors. Third, the most telling trend is the significant inflation in export prices across all subcategories, most notably for walking sticks and parts. This price surge, contrasted with flatter import prices, indicates a possible strategic shift within the EU towards higher-value-added, specialized, or luxury segments of the market, rather than competing on volume with Asian manufacturers.