Market evolution: Walking sticks and whips (CN 6602) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report analyses the evolution of EU trade for products classified under Combined Nomenclature code 6602: walking sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and the like. The analysis covers the period from 2015 to 2025 and is based on trade data for extra-EU flows. The period was characterized by a significant widening of the EU's trade deficit, driven by robust import growth in value and quantity coupled with stagnating or declining export volumes, leading to a sharp increase in export unit values. Key dynamics include the strengthening of Asian import sources, the shifting leadership among EU exporting Member States, and notable volatility in specific trade partnerships.
1. A Widening Deficit: The Core Trend of Growing Import Dependence
The overarching trend for CN 6602 over the 2015-2025 decade is a substantial increase in the EU's net import position. The trade balance deteriorated from a deficit of €17.1 million in 2015 to €32.0 million in 2025, a deterioration of 86.9%. This resulted from divergent paths for imports and exports.
Import Growth Outpaces Export Performance
Imports demonstrated strong and consistent growth. Import value rose by 51.9% over the decade, increasing from €30.7 million to €46.7 million. This growth was supported by a 26.1% increase in quantity (from 2,459 to 3,102 tonnes) and a 20.4% rise in the average import price (from €12,484 to €15,035 per tonne).
In contrast, EU exports told a story of volume decline and value stabilization through higher prices. Export quantity fell sharply by 29.4%, from 359 tonnes in 2015 to a decade-low of 253 tonnes in 2025. Despite this, export value managed an 8.0% increase (from €13.6 million to €14.7 million) due to a dramatic 52.7% surge in the unit export price (from €37,949 to €57,953 per tonne). This suggests EU exporters shifted towards higher-value products or faced significant cost pressures, as they exported fewer tonnes for a moderately higher total value.
| Metric | 2015 | 2025 | % Change | Trend Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import Value (EUR m) | 30.7 | 46.7 | +51.9% | Strong and sustained market expansion for foreign suppliers. |
| Import Quantity (t) | 2,459 | 3,102 | +26.1 | Growing physical volume of goods entering the EU market. |
| Import Price (EUR/t) | 12,484 | 15,035 | +20.4 | Rising cost of imported goods, potentially due to sourcing shifts or inflation. |
| Export Value (EUR m) | 13.6 | 14.7 | +8.0% | Modest value growth despite volume collapse. |
| Export Quantity (t) | 359 | 253 | -29.4% | Severe contraction in export volumes. |
| Export Price (EUR/t) | 37,949 | 57,953 | +52.7% | Dramatic increase in unit values, indicating a shift in product mix or margins. |
| Trade Balance (EUR m) | -17.1 | -32.0 | -86.9% | Significant deepening of the net importer position. |
2. Geographic Realignment: Shifting Partners and Specialized Producers
The structure of trade partnerships evolved, with Asian economies solidifying their dominance as import sources while the EU's export landscape became more concentrated among a few specialized Member States.
The Asian Manufacturing Base for EU Imports
China remained the paramount import partner, with its share of EU imports growing in value from €20.7 million to €29.1 million (+40.8%). However, the most dramatic growth came from Taiwan, whose exports to the EU more than doubled (+110.1%) to €14.1 million, making it the second-largest supplier by 2025. Other Asian partners like Hong Kong (+216.5%) and India (+103.5%) also showed significant growth, albeit from a smaller base. This points to a deepening and possibly diversifying of the EU's sourcing network within Asia. In contrast, the UK's share as a supplier fell sharply (-56.4%).
Czechia: The EU's Export Powerhouse
Within the EU, Czechia emerged as the undisputed leader in exports of CN 6602, increasing its share from €7.0 million to €7.9 million. Production data reinforces this; Czechia had a Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) of 0.74 in 2025, indicating very high specialization. Other traditional exporters like Italy (-53.3%) and Germany (-6.6%) saw declines. Notably, the Netherlands (+138.6%) and Sweden (+213.1%) showed strong growth, becoming more significant exporters by the end of the period. EU exports remained concentrated on developed, high-income markets like the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
3. Market Dynamics: Concentration, Volatility, and Sudden Shocks
The market structure remained moderately concentrated, with varying degrees of volatility across different trade relationships. While long-term trends show gradual shifts, the period also featured notable, abrupt price shocks in specific markets.
Stable Concentration, Evolving Internal Specialization
The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import value remained around 5,000, indicating a moderately concentrated import market, consistent with China and Taiwan's leading positions. The HHI for exports was lower (~1,292), reflecting a more dispersed export base among EU Member States. However, a look at specialization reveals a consolidation of production capacity. EU production quantity more than doubled from 3.6 million to 8.0 million items, while production value grew by 26.6% to €237.4 million. This growth was heavily driven by highly specialized producers, with Czechia at the forefront.
Patterns of Volatility and Notable Price Shocks
The coefficient of variation (CV) highlights distinct patterns. Imports from major Asian suppliers like China (CV: 0.15) and Taiwan (CV: 0.19) were relatively stable, while imports from the United Kingdom (CV: 1.12) and Ukraine (CV: 1.82) were highly volatile, likely influenced by political events.
The period also saw specific, extreme price shocks. Most pronounced was a 149% price spike in EU exports to Serbia in 2020 (abnormality score: 113.8). Another major event was a -24.7% price drop in exports to South Korea in 2018. These shocks suggest the market can be subject to sudden disruptions, possibly due to contract timing, quality mix changes, or one-off large orders.
Conclusion
Over the 2015-2025 period, the EU market for walking sticks and whips (CN 6602) underwent a clear structural shift. The EU has moved to a position of significantly greater net import dependence, with the trade deficit nearly doubling. This was fueled by strong, volume-driven import growth, predominantly sourced from China and a rising Taiwan. On the export side, the EU saw a severe contraction in volumes but sustained value through drastically higher unit prices, indicating a move up the value chain or increased cost pressures. This export resilience was underpinned by a specialized production base, with Czechia solidifying its role as the core EU exporter. The market exhibited stable relationships with major Asian suppliers but was punctuated by high volatility with some European partners and isolated, dramatic price shocks. The overarching narrative is one of a market where production and specialization within the EU are consolidating, while the consumer demand for standard products is increasingly met by imports.