Spain's Imports of Flatware Drop to $69M in 2023

Spain Table Flatware Imports

In 2023, supplies from abroad of table flatware decreased by -15.9% to 7.7K tons for the first time since 2020, thus ending a two-year rising trend. Over the period under review, total imports indicated a measured increase from 2013 to 2023: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2023 figures, imports increased by +46.8% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2022 when imports increased by 47%. As a result, imports reached the peak of 9.1K tons, and then declined dramatically in the following year.

In value terms, table flatware imports declined to $69M (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. In general, total imports indicated temperate growth from 2013 to 2023: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2023 figures, imports increased by +69.7% against 2020 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2022 when imports increased by 45% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of $81M, and then contracted in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2023, China (4.4K tons) constituted the largest supplier of table flatware to Spain, with a 57% share of total imports. Moreover, table flatware imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Germany (722 tons), sixfold. The third position in this ranking was held by France (692 tons), with a 9% share.

From 2013 to 2023, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume from China stood at +5.7%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Germany (+10.3% per year) and France (+6.6% per year).

In value terms, China ($32M) constituted the largest supplier of table flatware to Spain, comprising 46% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Germany ($12M), with a 17% share of total imports. It was followed by France, with a 9.3% share.

From 2013 to 2023, the average annual rate of growth in terms of value from China amounted to +8.0%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Germany (+8.8% per year) and France (+3.0% per year).

Imports by Type

Cutlery; other than plated with precious metal (4.1K tons), cutlery; sets of assorted articles (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter knives, sugar tongs and similar), not plated with precious metal (2.4K tons) and cutlery; sets of assorted articles (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives, sugar tongs and similar), with at least one article plated with precious metal (887 tons) were the main products of table flatware imports to Spain, together accounting for 99% of total imports.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the major product types, was attained by cutlery; sets of assorted articles (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives, sugar tongs and similar), with at least one article plated with precious metal (with a CAGR of +7.6%), while imports for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, table flatware with the largest imports in Spain were cutlery; other than plated with precious metal ($40M), cutlery; sets of assorted articles (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter knives, sugar tongs and similar), not plated with precious metal ($21M) and cutlery; sets of assorted articles (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives, sugar tongs and similar), with at least one article plated with precious metal ($6.5M), together accounting for 99% of total imports.

Import Prices by Country

In 2023, the table flatware price stood at $8,956 per ton (CIF, Spain), stabilizing at the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when the average import price increased by 15% against the previous year. Over the period under review, average import prices hit record highs at $9,126 per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2023, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($16,326 per ton), while the price for the Netherlands ($4,533 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Italy (+5.8%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform