Market evolution: Vegetable extracts (CN 130219) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report analyzes the trade dynamics of the European Union (EU) in vegetable saps and extracts, classified under customs code 130219 (excluding liquorice, hops, opium, and ephedra), over the period 2015 to 2025. The data reveals a market characterized by substantial overall growth, significant shifts in trade patterns, and evolving structural complexities. The EU has maintained a persistent but narrowing trade deficit in this sector, driven by divergent trends between imports and exports in terms of value, volume, and pricing.
1. A Market of Robust but Asymmetric Growth
The EU's trade in vegetable extracts expanded significantly over the decade, but the growth trajectories for imports and exports differed markedly.
Imports surged in volume while export values soared
Total EU import value in 2025 was €603.5 million, a 122.3% increase from 2015. This growth was even more pronounced in volume, which surged by 327.7% to 66,325 tonnes. In contrast, export value grew by 163.8% to €570.5 million, outpacing the 54.2% growth in export volume to 20,545 tonnes. This indicates a fundamental divergence: the EU imported vastly greater quantities of raw or semi-processed material while specializing in exporting higher-value, processed extracts.
| Metric | Flow | 2015 | 2025 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value (€ million) | Imports | 271.5 | 603.5 | +122.3% |
| Exports | 216.3 | 570.5 | +163.8% | |
| Volume (tonnes) | Imports | 15,506 | 66,325 | +327.7% |
| Exports | 13,323 | 20,545 | +54.2% | |
| Unit Price (€/t) | Imports | 17,512 | 9,099 | -48.0% |
| Exports | 16,232 | 27,745 | +70.9% |
The trade deficit is driven by volume, not value
The EU's trade deficit in this sector has persisted throughout the period but has narrowed. The deficit shrank from €55.3 million in 2015 to €33.0 million in 2025, a 40.3% improvement. This narrowing is almost entirely due to the rapid appreciation of export values, which nearly caught up to import values despite much lower volumes.
2. Diverging Geographies: New Suppliers and Old Customers
The geographic landscape of EU trade in vegetable extracts underwent a profound transformation, with the rise of new major suppliers and a deepening concentration on key export markets.
Import sourcing shifted towards Asia and the Caribbean
China remained the EU's primary import source, with its share growing from €87.2 million to €250.3 million. However, the most explosive growth came from emerging suppliers: imports from India skyrocketed by 275.4% to €100.1 million, while imports from Vietnam and the Dominican Republic saw astronomical percentage growth from near-zero bases to become significant sources valued at €21.7 million and €21.2 million, respectively. The United States, while still a top partner, saw its import value decline by 14.9%.
| Import Partner | Value 2015 (€ million) | Value 2025 (€ million) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 87.2 | 250.3 | +187.2% |
| India | 26.7 | 100.1 | +275.4% |
| United States | 49.7 | 42.2 | -14.9% |
| Viet Nam | 0.05 | 21.7 | >1000% |
| Dominican Republic | 0.02 | 21.2 | >1000% |
Export markets consolidated around the United States
The United States solidified its position as the EU's paramount export destination, with its value soaring by 219.6% to €180.4 million. Other key markets like South Korea (+162.9%), the United Kingdom (+107.9%), and China (+735.0%) also showed strong growth, indicating broad-based demand for EU-processed extracts. France experienced a dramatic, though from a very low base, increase in its export performance.
3. Structural Shifts: Specialization and Price Volatility
The underlying structure of the market evolved, with increasing specialization among EU members and notable price volatility in key trade flows.
Internal EU specialization became more pronounced
The market structure analysis for 2025 reveals significant disparities in EU members' trade profiles. Spain and France show strong Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) scores, indicating they are net exporters with specialized industries in this sector. In contrast, large economies like Germany and the Netherlands have negative RSCA scores, highlighting their roles as major importers and processors rather than specialized exporters.
Supply relationships showed divergent volatility
Volatility analysis indicates that import relationships are generally more stable than export ones. The coefficient of variation (CV) for imports from major suppliers like China and India is moderate (0.43 and 0.26, respectively). However, exports to partners like Chile (CV: 2.48) and Norway (CV: 2.32) were highly volatile. The data also identified specific supply shocks, such as a significant price spike in imports from the Dominican Republic in 2017 and a major price shock in exports to Thailand in 2023.
Conclusion
Between 2015 and 2025, the EU's vegetable extracts market (CN 130219) underwent a transformation. It grew substantially, with the EU increasingly operating as a high-volume importer of raw materials and a high-value exporter of processed extracts. The trade geography shifted, with Asian suppliers gaining prominence and the U.S. market becoming even more critical for exports. Internally, EU member states displayed increasing specialization. While the trade deficit narrowed due to surging export values, the market's expansion was accompanied by significant price volatility and episodic supply shocks, underscoring the dynamic and competitive nature of this global trade segment.