EU: Natural Polymers Market 2024

Natural Polymers Market Size in the EU

The EU natural polymers market shrank to $X in 2021, declining by -10.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption saw a pronounced slump. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2014 to 2021, the growth of the market remained at a lower figure.

Natural Polymers Production in the EU

In value terms, natural polymers production declined to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. In general, production showed a pronounced descent. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2013 with an increase of 28% against the previous year. As a result, production reached the peak level of $X. From 2014 to 2021, production growth failed to regain momentum.

Natural Polymers Exports

Exports in the EU

For the third year in a row, the European Union recorded growth in overseas shipments of natural and modified natural polymers in primary forms, which increased by 33% to X tons in 2021. Total exports indicated a resilient increase from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.4% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, exports increased by +64.7% against 2018 indices. As a result, the exports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, natural polymers exports surged to $X in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, the exports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

Italy was the major exporting country with an export of about X tons, which recorded 53% of total exports. The Netherlands (X tons) held a 15% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by France (13%) and Germany (7%). The following exporters - Spain (X tons), Belgium (X tons) and Poland (X tons) - together made up 8% of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to natural polymers exports from Italy stood at +18.8%. At the same time, Poland (+34.4%), the Netherlands (+13.8%), Spain (+7.1%) and Germany (+2.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Poland emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +34.4% from 2012-2021. By contrast, France (-1.0%) and Belgium (-5.9%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Italy (+33 p.p.), the Netherlands (+6.8 p.p.) and Poland (+2 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total exports, while Germany, Belgium and France saw its share reduced by -3.3%, -5.8% and -11.7% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest natural polymers supplying countries in the European Union were France ($X), Italy ($X) and the Netherlands ($X), with a combined 43% share of total exports. These countries were followed by Germany, Spain, Belgium and Poland, which together accounted for a further 18%.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Poland, with a CAGR of +32.7%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2021, shrinking by -5.7% against the previous year. In general, the export price showed a perceptible setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the export price increased by 18%. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Spain ($X per ton), while Italy ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Belgium (+7.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Natural Polymers Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2021, the amount of natural and modified natural polymers in primary forms imported in the European Union rose remarkably to X tons, increasing by 13% compared with the previous year. Total imports indicated a buoyant expansion from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.3% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, imports increased by +72.7% against 2012 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 25% against the previous year. The volume of import peaked in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, natural polymers imports expanded remarkably to $X in 2021. Total imports indicated a strong expansion from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.4% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, imports increased by +62.3% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when imports increased by 20% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure in 2021 and are likely to continue growth in years to come.

Imports by Country

Germany (X tons), France (X tons), Spain (X tons) and the Netherlands (X tons) represented roughly 54% of total imports in 2021. Belgium (X tons) ranks next in terms of the total imports with a 6.7% share, followed by Italy (6.6%), Romania (5.6%), Slovenia (5%) and Poland (4.5%).

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for Slovenia (with a CAGR of +54.0%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($X), Spain ($X) and France ($X) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, together comprising 46% of total imports. The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovenia lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 37%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Slovenia, with a CAGR of +32.1%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in the European Union stood at $X per ton in 2021, falling by -4.8% against the previous year. In general, the import price showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 an increase of 12% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2014 to 2021, the import prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Belgium ($X per ton), while Romania ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+11.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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