EU: Wadding Market 2024

Wadding Market Size in the EU

The EU wadding market soared to $X in 2021, jumping by 16% against the previous year. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +2.5% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, consumption attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Wadding Production in the EU

In value terms, wadding production rose remarkably to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, production reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Wadding Exports

Exports in the EU

In 2021, overseas shipments of wadding decreased by -1.2% to X tons for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year rising trend. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2015 when exports increased by 7.6%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2020, and then contracted slightly in the following year.

In value terms, wadding exports reached $X in 2021. Overall, exports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 with an increase of 4.9%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the maximum at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

The biggest shipments were from Poland (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Italy (X tons), Germany (X tons), France (X tons), Bulgaria (X tons), Hungary (X tons), Lithuania (X tons), Spain (X tons), Greece (X tons), Belgium (X tons) and Estonia (X tons), together finishing at 91% of total export.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Estonia (with a CAGR of +49.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest wadding supplying countries in the European Union were Lithuania ($X), Poland ($X) and Hungary ($X), together comprising 35% of total exports. The Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Greece, Belgium and Estonia lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 54%.

Among the main exporting countries, Estonia, with a CAGR of +49.1%, 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

In 2021, the export price in the European Union amounted to $X per ton, increasing by 6% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably country of origin: the country with the highest price was Lithuania ($X per ton), while Belgium ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Lithuania (+8.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Wadding Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2021, after three years of growth, there was significant decline in supplies from abroad of wadding, when their volume decreased by -5.4% to X tons. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2015 with an increase of 9.6%. Over the period under review, imports attained the maximum at X tons in 2020, and then contracted in the following year.

In value terms, wadding imports reached $X in 2021. Over the period under review, imports continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 with an increase of 7%. Over the period under review, imports attained the maximum at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

In 2021, France (X tons), distantly followed by Germany (X tons), Poland (X tons), Spain (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons) and Romania (X tons) represented the major importers of wadding, together committing 63% of total imports. The following importers - Italy (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons), Belgium (X tons), Bulgaria (X tons), Lithuania (X tons), Greece (X tons) and Austria (X tons) - together made up 22% of total imports.

Imports into France increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Romania (+6.4%), Belgium (+3.1%), Italy (+2.7%) and Poland (+2.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Romania emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +6.4% from 2012-2021. Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Greece experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, the Netherlands (-1.2%), Bulgaria (-1.5%) and Lithuania (-3.7%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. France (+4.9 p.p.) and Romania (+1.9 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while Lithuania, Germany and the Netherlands saw its share reduced by -1.6%, -1.6% and -1.9% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest wadding importing markets in the European Union were France ($X), Germany ($X) and Poland ($X), with a combined 40% share of total imports. The Netherlands, Romania, Italy, Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Austria, Lithuania and Bulgaria lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 45%.

Romania, with a CAGR of +8.7%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in the European Union amounted to $X per ton, growing by 6.2% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, saw a slight decline. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

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

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Greece (+5.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform