Europe: Market for Glass Fibre Chopped Strands 2024

Market Size for Glass Fibre Chopped Strands in Europe

The Europe glass fibre chopped strand market contracted to $X in 2021, dropping by -9% against the previous year. Overall, consumption saw a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2019 to 2021, the growth of the market failed to regain momentum.

Production of Glass Fibre Chopped Strands in Europe

In value terms, glass fibre chopped strand production dropped remarkably to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production, however, recorded a noticeable slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 with an increase of 102% against the previous year. As a result, production attained the peak level of $X, and then reduced rapidly in the following year.

Exports of Glass Fibre Chopped Strands

Exports in Europe

In 2021, the amount of glass fibre chopped strands exported in Europe soared to X tons, picking up by 18% against 2020. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.9% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 20% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked in 2021 and is likely to continue growth in the near future.

In value terms, glass fibre chopped strand exports soared to $X in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +3.3% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, the exports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Belgium (X tons) was the key exporter of glass fibre chopped strands, committing 39% of total exports. France (X tons) took a 21% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by the Netherlands (20%) and Slovakia (14%). Germany (X tons) held a minor share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for Germany (with a CAGR of +8.7%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest glass fibre chopped strand supplying countries in Europe were Belgium ($X), the Netherlands ($X) and France ($X), with a combined 79% share of total exports. These countries were followed by Slovakia and Germany, which together accounted for a further 15%.

Among the main exporting countries, Germany, with a CAGR of +8.1%, saw 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 Europe amounted to $X per ton, growing by 11% against the previous year. Overall, the export price, however, continues to indicate a mild descent. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 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 Germany ($X per ton), while Slovakia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Germany (-0.5%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Imports of Glass Fibre Chopped Strands

Imports in Europe

In 2021, overseas purchases of glass fibre chopped strands were finally on the rise to reach X tons for the first time since 2018, thus ending a two-year declining trend. Total imports indicated a resilient increase from 2012 to 2021: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.7% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, glass fibre chopped strand imports surged to $X in 2021. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +4.2% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

Germany represented the largest importer of glass fibre chopped strands in Europe, with the volume of imports resulting at X tons, which was near 35% of total imports in 2021. The Netherlands (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 15% share, followed by Italy (13%), Belgium (11%) and France (5.4%). The following importers - Switzerland (X tons), Poland (X tons), the UK (X tons), Spain (X tons) and Russia (X tons) - together made up 17% of total imports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to glass fibre chopped strand imports into Germany stood at +3.4%. At the same time, Belgium (+11.8%), Switzerland (+10.0%), the Netherlands (+8.2%), Spain (+8.0%), Poland (+7.7%), Italy (+7.7%), France (+3.6%) and Russia (+3.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Belgium emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Europe, with a CAGR of +11.8% from 2012-2021. The UK experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. While the share of Belgium (+4.2 p.p.), the Netherlands (+2.8 p.p.) and Italy (+2 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of the UK (-1.9 p.p.) and Germany (-7.7 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Germany ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported glass fibre chopped strands in Europe, comprising 34% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by the Netherlands ($X), with a 14% share of total imports. It was followed by Italy, with a 12% share.

In Germany, glass fibre chopped strand imports increased at an average annual rate of +1.8% over the period from 2012-2021. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: the Netherlands (+6.4% per year) and Italy (+6.2% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The import price in Europe stood at $X per ton in 2021, with an increase of 14% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, saw a slight decrease. Over the period under review, import prices attained the maximum at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, import prices failed to regain momentum.

Average prices varied noticeably amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, major importing countries recorded the following prices: in Switzerland ($X per ton) and Spain ($X per ton), while Italy ($X per ton) and the Netherlands ($X per ton) were amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (-0.3%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform