Market evolution: Used textile rags (CN 6310) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report analyzes the evolution of the European Union's external trade in used or new textile rags and scrap cordage (Customs Code 6310) between 2015 and 2025. The period was marked by significant volatility and structural shifts. While export volumes grew, their value declined substantially, indicating a move towards lower-value trade. The market also experienced notable price shocks and changes in key trading partnerships, reflecting broader geopolitical and economic influences. This analysis delves into the primary dynamics underpinning these trends, examining volume-price divergences, shifts in market concentration, and the impact of external shocks on the trade flow.
The Great Volume-Value Divergence: Exporting More for Less
A defining feature of the EU's trade in CN 6310 over the decade was the stark divergence between export quantity and value. While the Union shipped increasing volumes of textile rags abroad, the total revenue from these exports plummeted.
Export volumes grew while value collapsed. The total quantity of EU exports in CN 6310 increased by 37.0%, rising from 112,312 tonnes in 2015 to 153,868 tonnes in 2025. Conversely, the total value of these exports fell by 35.3%, from €56.2 million to €36.4 million. This severe contraction in value was driven by a consistent decline in export prices.
| Metric | 2015 | 2025 | Change (2015–2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export Quantity (tonnes) | 112,312 | 153,868 | +37.0% |
| Export Value (EUR) | 56,212,570 | 36,353,944 | -35.3% |
| Average Export Price (EUR/t) | 500 | 236 | -52.8% |
The price collapse was not uniform across product subsegments. The decline in average prices was most pronounced for unsorted rags (CN 631090). In 2015, unsorted rags commanded a premium, exporting at an average of €797/t. By 2025, their price had collapsed to €251/t. Sorted rags (CN 631010) also saw a price decline, from €326/t to €225/t, but the loss was far less dramatic. This suggests a possible oversupply or diminished demand for lower-grade, unsorted textile waste.
A Shift in Trade Partners and Increasing Concentration
The EU's sourcing and destination markets for CN 6310 underwent significant realignment, leading to a more concentrated trade structure by the end of the period.
Import sources consolidated around a few key partners. The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for imports rose by 16.9%, indicating decreasing diversity. The total value of EU imports decreased by 15.3% overall, but the changes varied drastically by partner. Imports from some traditional suppliers like Bangladesh and the United States fell by over 60%. In contrast, India remained the largest supplier, with imports even growing by 19.8% in value. Among EU member states, Italy and Spain remained the top importers, though their volumes decreased, while Germany's imports grew by 28.6%.
| Import Partner | Value 2015 (EUR) | Value 2025 (EUR) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 10,575,144 | 12,670,319 | +19.8% |
| Türkiye | 4,690,332 | 3,160,593 | -32.6% |
| United States | 4,600,639 | 1,829,598 | -60.2% |
| Bangladesh | 5,256,089 | 1,410,285 | -73.2% |
Export destinations also became more volatile. The HHI for exports increased by a substantial 45.4%, highlighting major shifts in client countries. Trade with some partners, like Tunisia, collapsed by 91.0%. Conversely, exports to Morocco more than doubled, and shipments to Switzerland proved remarkably stable, growing by 23.9% in value. Within the EU, Italy's role as an exporter collapsed by 83.2%, while Spain's exports soared by 204.0%, becoming a major hub.
Navigating Price Shocks and Partner Volatility
The market for textile rags is inherently volatile, subject to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical events. The 2020-2022 period was particularly disruptive, featuring pronounced price shocks.
Key trade relationships exhibited high volatility. The coefficient of variation (CV) measures the consistency of trade values over time. Several partners showed high volatility (CV > 0.4), indicating unpredictable trade flows. For EU imports, trade with Belarus was the most volatile. For exports, relationships with China and South Africa were extremely unstable, likely due to sporadic, large-volume shipments.
The 2022 supply shock left a clear mark. A significant price shock event was detected in 2022. This coincides with the post-pandemic logistics crisis and the onset of the energy crisis. For example, the price of exports to the Russian Federation surged by 214.5% in 2022 relative to the trend. Simultaneously, import prices from Honduras spiked abnormally, reflecting global cost pressures. These shocks contributed to the peak in overall import values observed in 2022 (€114.5 million) before a subsequent normalization.
Conclusion
The EU market for used textile rags (CN 6310) between 2015 and 2025 transformed significantly. The dominant narrative is one of a structural shift: the EU moved towards exporting larger volumes but at substantially lower values, particularly for unsorted waste, indicating a shift down the value chain. Concurrently, the import market contracted and concentrated, with India solidifying its position as the key supplier while other partners receded. The market proved highly susceptible to external shocks, with the 2022 period introducing severe price volatility and disrupting established trade patterns. By 2025, the trade deficit widened to €11.8 million, driven not by a lack of exports, but by their diminished value. This underscores the challenges facing the EU's textile recycling and waste management sector in maintaining value recovery in a volatile global market.