Europe: Photographic Film Market 2025

Photographic Film Market Size in Europe

In 2021, the Europe photographic film market increased by 24% to $X, rising for the fourth consecutive year after five years of decline. Overall, consumption, however, showed a pronounced contraction. Over the period under review, the market reached the peak level at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Photographic Film Production in Europe

In value terms, photographic film production expanded modestly to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. In general, production, however, continues to indicate a abrupt setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 9.2% against the previous year. The level of production peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, production failed to regain momentum.

Photographic Film Exports

Exports in Europe

For the third year in a row, Europe recorded decline in overseas shipments of photographic plates and film, photographic paper, paperboard and textiles and instant print film, sensitized, unexposed, which decreased by -2.6% to X square meters in 2021. Over the period under review, exports recorded a deep reduction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 when exports increased by 15%. The volume of export peaked at X square meters in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, photographic film exports expanded markedly to $X in 2021. Overall, exports showed a deep contraction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 17% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Belgium (X square meters), distantly followed by the Netherlands (X square meters) and Germany (X square meters) represented the main exporters of photographic plates and film, photographic paper, paperboard and textiles and instant print film, sensitized, unexposed, together constituting 90% of total exports. Spain (X square meters) and the UK (X square meters) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for Spain (with a CAGR of +0.7%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced a decline in the exports figures.

In value terms, the largest photographic film supplying countries in Europe were Germany ($X), Belgium ($X) and the Netherlands ($X), together comprising 87% of total exports. The UK and Spain lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 5.2%.

Among the main exporting countries, Spain, with a CAGR of -1.8%, 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 a decline in the exports figures.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Europe stood at $X per square meter in 2021, increasing by 11% against the previous year. Overall, the export price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of export peaked at $X per square meter in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($X per square meter), while Spain ($X per square meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the UK (+8.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Photographic Film Imports

Imports in Europe

In 2021, after two years of decline, there was significant growth in purchases abroad of photographic plates and film, photographic paper, paperboard and textiles and instant print film, sensitized, unexposed, when their volume increased by 12% to X square meters. Overall, imports, however, saw a perceptible descent. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 25%. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at X square meters in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, photographic film imports surged to $X in 2021. In general, imports, however, saw a pronounced curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when imports increased by 23% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the maximum at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

Belgium (X square meters) and Germany (X square meters) represented roughly 32% of total imports in 2021. Italy (X square meters) took an 8.3% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by Spain (7.3%), the UK (7.2%), the Netherlands (6.9%), Russia (6.5%), France (6%) and Poland (5.8%).

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by Poland (with a CAGR of +6.3%), while imports for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the imports figures.

In value terms, Germany ($X), Belgium ($X) and Italy ($X) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, together comprising 39% of total imports. France, the UK, Russia, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 40%.

Poland, with a CAGR of +6.0%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced a decline in the imports figures.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in Europe amounted to $X per square meter, increasing by 4.6% against the previous year. In general, the import price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 an increase of 10% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X per square meter in 2014; however, from 2015 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, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($X per square meter), while Belgium ($X per square meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Germany (+5.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform