Market evolution: Whole cloves (CN 0907) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyses the trade evolution of whole cloves (Customs code 0907) within the European Union for the period from 2015 to 2025. Based on the provided data, the EU's external trade in this spice has undergone significant expansion, characterized by growing volumes and shifting sourcing patterns, alongside persistent volatility in prices and a widening trade deficit. The following sections detail these primary dynamics.

Growth and Structural Shift in Trade Volume and Value

The decade under review was marked by robust growth in both the import and export of cloves, with the value of EU external trade nearly doubling. This growth, however, occurred against a backdrop of a widening structural trade deficit for the bloc.

Import and export volumes expanded significantly

EU imports of cloves increased from 2,226 tonnes in 2015 to 3,416 tonnes in 2025, representing a rise of 53.5% in volume. The value of these imports grew by 43.4%, from €19.1 million to €27.3 million. Similarly, EU exports saw even more dramatic growth, with quantity rising by 115.2% (from 258 tonnes to 555 tonnes) and value increasing by 99.2% (from €3.1 million to €6.2 million). More details on this overall trend can be viewed in the General Overview dashboard.

The EU's trade deficit in cloves deepened

Despite the strong export growth, the EU remains a significant net importer of cloves. The trade deficit (imports minus exports) widened by 32.4% over the period, growing from €15.9 million in 2015 to €21.1 million in 2025. This indicates that import growth in value terms outpaced export growth, underscoring the bloc's continued reliance on external suppliers to meet domestic demand.

Unit prices declined, diverging for imports and exports

The average price per tonne for imported cloves fell by 6.6%, from €8,568 in 2015 to €8,004 in 2025. For exports, the average price saw a steeper decline of 7.5%, moving from €12,141 per tonne to €11,233. This price compression suggests possible efficiency gains or changing product mixes, with the price differential between exports and imports reflecting value-added processing within the EU. The evolution of these prices is detailed in the Product Segment Breakdown.

Changing Sourcing and Destination Landscapes

The geographic composition of the EU's clove trade underwent substantial shifts, with certain supplier countries gaining dominance while export destinations diversified, albeit with increasing concentration on the import side.

The supplier base became more concentrated on a few key origins

The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import concentration by value increased by 31.2% over the period, indicating a movement towards greater reliance on fewer supplier countries. Madagascar solidified its position as the leading supplier, with imports growing by 60.9% to €10.8 million. Indonesia's role expanded dramatically, with imports surging by 192.7% to €7.7 million, making it the second-largest source. Conversely, imports from traditional suppliers like Comoros (-13.9%) and Sri Lanka (-12.3%) saw modest declines. The full partner breakdown is available on the top partners dashboard.

EU exports saw major growth to North America and key European neighbours

The United States emerged as a crucial growth market for EU cloves, with exports increasing by 306.1% to €796,000 in 2025. The United Kingdom remained the top destination, with exports growing by 35.0% to €1.58 million. Other notable growth was seen in exports to Switzerland (+87.4%) and Norway (+134.7%). This diversification of export markets is reflected in the 38.1% decrease in the HHI for export concentration by value. The performance of individual EU members as exporters can be examined in the top reporters section.

EU member states show divergent specialisation in clove trade

An analysis of revealed comparative advantage (RCA) for 2025 shows that within the EU, certain members are more specialised in clove exports. Latvia (RCA 8.00) and Estonia (RCA 4.97) exhibit high specialisation, while the Netherlands, despite being the largest exporter by value, has a more moderate RCA of 2.48 due to its large total trade base. At the other end, countries like Ireland and Finland show minimal specialisation. This structure is visualised in the specialisation analysis.

Price Volatility, Supply Shocks, and Product Segmentation

Beneath the aggregate growth figures, the clove market experienced considerable price instability, driven by notable shocks, while the distinct behaviour of whole versus ground cloves shaped the trade dynamics.

Significant price shocks occurred in both import and export flows

The data identifies several abnormal price events. A major price shock was detected in 2020 for EU cloves exported to the United States, with an abnormality score of 48.2 and a 32.8% price shift. On the import side, a notable price shock occurred in 2022 for cloves sourced from Comoros (abnormality 37.8, shift 32.8%). These shocks highlight the market's susceptibility to supply disruptions or demand surges. The full list of detected shocks and volatility coefficients per partner is detailed in the volatility section.

Whole cloves dominate trade, but ground cloves show higher price volatility

The product subcategory 090710 (neither crushed nor ground) constitutes the vast majority of both imports and exports by quantity and value. In 2025, whole cloves accounted for 91.4% of import volume and 61.9% of export volume. However, the unit price for the smaller segment of ground cloves (090720) has been more volatile. For instance, the price for imported ground cloves peaked at €7,709 per tonne in 2022 before moderating, while the price for whole cloves has followed a different trajectory. This segmentation is critical for understanding market pressures, as shown in the Product Segment Breakdown.

Conclusion

Over the 2015-2025 period, the EU's trade in whole cloves expanded robustly in both volume and value. This growth was fueled by increased sourcing from dominant suppliers like Madagascar and Indonesia, and by burgeoning exports, particularly to the United States. However, this expansion came with increased market concentration on the import side and a widening trade deficit. The period was also characterized by notable price shocks and volatility, underscoring the market's sensitivity to external factors. The clear dominance of whole cloves in trade flows, alongside the distinct price behaviour of ground cloves, defines the product landscape. Looking ahead, the market's trajectory will likely be influenced by the supply stability from key origins and the EU's continued role as a processing and re-export hub.