Archive:EU trade in COVID-19 related products
This Statistics Explained article has been archived - for recent articles on International trade in goods see here.
Data extracted in March 2022.
Planned article update: no update planned.
Highlights
Switzerland and the United States were the largest EU trade partners for COVID-19 related products in 2021.
Switzerland accounted for almost two thirds of extra EU imports of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021.
To help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world have taken a variety of restrictive measures, which have negatively affected international trade in goods, with a few noteworthy exceptions. Among these are goods used in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic: sterilisation products (incl. disinfectants), medical vehicles and furniture, protective garments, diagnostic testing equipment, medical devices, oxygen therapy equipment and medical consumables, or so called ‘COVID-19 related products’. In this article, imports and exports of these goods are presented by product group and compared over time with other similar products, across EU Member States and by main trade partner. Finally imports and exports of COVID-19 vaccines are presented by main partners and by Member State.
Full article
In 2020, extra-EU imports and exports of COVID-19 related products increased by 12 % and 6 % respectively, compared to 2019 (Figure 1). In contrast, trade in other similar products [1], dropped by 4 % for imports and by 7 % for exports. In 2021 compared to 2020 trade in COVID-19 related products continued to grow by 11 % for both imports and exports while similar products' imports grew by 13 % and their exports by 10 % in 2021. Looking at average annual growth between 2019 and 2021, imports of COVID-related products grew by 12 % compared to 9 % for similar products while exports of COVID-19 related products grew by 9 % compared to 2 % for similar products.
Despite the economic downturn and a decrease in total extra-EU trade, imports increased for all types of COVID-19 related products in 2020 (Figure 2). Imports of oxygen equipment and protective garments recorded the highest increase (respectively by 44.9 % and 41.6 % compared with 2019) amongst COVID-19 related products, followed by sterilization products (20.1 %). In 2021 compared to the high level in 2020, imports for oxygen equipment and sterilization products fell. However, combined over the period 2019 to 2021 all product groups' imports increased with the highest annual average increases for protective garments (28.2 %) and diagnostic testing equipment (20.6 %).
In 2020, the highest increases for extra-EU exports were recorded for diagnostic testing equipment (16.6 %) and sterilization products (16.1 %) see Figure 3. There were decreases for medical vehicles and furniture, medical devices and protective garments. Between 2019 and 2021, average annual increases were highest for diagnostic testing equipment (15.2 %), medical consumables (7.6 %), medical devices (6.1 %) and protective garments (5.8 %).
The trade balance for COVID-19 related products increased by €15.0 billion for medical consumables which includes COVID-19 vaccines, between 2019 and 2021 (Figure 4). There was also a €2.6 billion increase for diagnostic testing equipment while there was a decrease of €8.1 billion for protective garments and €0.7 billion for oxygen equipment. Balances for the other product groups did not change much.
The United States (€36 billion) and Switzerland (€35 billion) were the main partner countries for imports of COVID-19 related products in 2021 (Figure 5) followed by China (€32 billion) and the United Kingdom €12 billion). These four partners accounted for 73 % of all COVID-19 related imports in 2021. Between 2019 and 2021, imports from China (+ €18 billion), Switzerland (+ €6 billion) and the United States (+ €4 billion) all increased while imports from the United Kingdom decreased by €2 billion.
The United States (€79 billion) was the largest partner of COVID-19 related exports (Figure 6), followed at some distance by Switzerland, (€28 billion) the United Kingdom (€24 billion) and China (€17 billion). These four partners accounted for 58 % of all COVID-19 related exports in 2021. Between 2019 and 2021, exports to the United States (+ €11 billion), Switzerland (+ €8 billion) and China (€2 billion) all increased while exports to the United Kingdom (- €2 billion) decreased.
In imports of COVID-19 related products (Figure 7), medical consumables was the largest product group for Switzerland (65.2 %), the United Kingdom (53.4 %) and the United States (46.1 %) while for China the largest group was protective garments (37.7%). Diagnostic testing equipment was the second largest group for all four main partners.
In exports of COVID-19 related products (Figure 8), medical consumables was the largest product group for each of the four main partners. For the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland the second largest group was diagnostic testing equipment while for China medical devices was second, just half a percent behind diagnostic testing equipment.
Per capita trade largest in Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovenia
Figure 9 shows that per capita imports of COVID-19 related products in 2021 were highest in Belgium (€4 988), Slovenia (€3 841) (see footnote 2), the Netherlands (€2 967) and Ireland (€2 386). These same four countries, but in a different order, also had the highest per capita exports (Figure 10). Ireland had by far the highest per capita values (€12 621), reflecting a high specialisation in the trading of these products, especially diagnostic test equipment and medical consumables. Ireland was followed by Belgium (€7 431), Slovenia (€4 038) and the Netherlands (€3 934). The lowest values for imports per capita were observed in Greece (€445), Poland (€420), Romania (€371) and Bulgaria (€337). The majority of countries (18 out of 27) recorded per capita imports between €500 and €1 500.
Tables 1 and 2 show per capita imports and exports in 2021 by product group. Belgium had the highest per capita value in imports of diagnostic test equipment (€1 175). The Netherlands had the highest values for protective garments (€274), sterilization products (€104) and medical devices (€464). Slovakia had the highest value (€107) for oxygen therapy equipment, Slovenia for medical consumables (€3 160) and Luxembourg (€48) for medical vehicles and furniture. The variation in values between Member States (as measured by the relative standard deviation) was largest for diagnostic test equipment and medical consumables. In contrast the variation in values between Member States was smallest for protective garments.
According to the relative standard deviation, the total export of COVID-19 related products showed a higher per capita variability with respect to the import values for all the groups, with the highest values for diagnostic test equipment. Ireland had by far the highest per capita exports in diagnostic test equipment (€5 695) and medical consumables (€6 280). Czechia led in oxygen equipment (€117). Latvia had the highest per capita values for the export of medical vehicles and furniture (€39) while the Netherlands was first for protective garments (€263), sterilization products (€115) and medical devices (€706).
Among all Member States, the most imported product group was medical consumables with the highest shares in Slovenia (82 %) and Malta (76 %) see Figure 11. The shares for diagnostic equipment were highest in Germany (27 %), Ireland (25 %) and Belgium (24 %). The Netherlands (16 %) and Finland (15 %) had the highest share in medical devices. Slovakia, Czechia (both 22 %) and Finland (21 %) had the highest shares in protective garments. Slovakia (12 %) had the highest share in oxygen therapy equipment, Luxembourg (3 %) in medical vehicles and furniture and Sweden (5 %) in sterilization products.
In 22 Member States, the most exported product group was medical consumables with the highest shares in Cyprus (94 %) and Greece (90 %) as shown in Figure 12. The share for diagnostic equipment was highest in Ireland (45 %). Finland (35 %) had the highest shares in medical devices, Slovakia (32 %) in protective garments and Latvia (8 %) in medical vehicles and furniture. Romania (23 %) had the highest shares in oxygen equipment and Hungary (7 %) in sterilization products.
Germany was the largest importer of COVID-19 related products for both intra-EU and extra-EU imports (Figure 13). In all but four Member States (the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Malta) intra-EU imports were larger than extra-EU imports.
Source: Eurostat (DS-059283)
Germany was also the largest exporter of COVID-19 related products for both intra-EU and extra-EU exports (Figure 14). In all but seven Member States (Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Slovenia, Finland and Lithuania) intra-EU exports were larger than extra-EU exports.
Source: Eurostat (DS-059283)
Trade in COVID-19 vaccines
The EU exported €20.1 billion worth of COVID-19 vaccines to countries outside the EU in 2021. The largest export destinations were Japan (21.4 %), the United Kingdom (13.6 %), South Korea (5.9 %), Turkey (5.2 %) and Australia (5.0 %) see Figure 15. Imports (€7.8 billion) were much smaller than exports and came predominantly from Switzerland (64.8 %) and the United States (28.7 %).
Germany (€7.9 billion), Spain (€5.5 billion) and Belgium (€3.6 billion) were the largest importers of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 (Table 3). These three Member States were also the largest importers per capita. Belgium (€316) had the largest imports per capita followed by Spain (€117) and Germany (€95). As mentioned before, per capita figures should be interpreted with care since they do not take into account own production, processing and transit trade.
Belgium (60.8 %), Germany (21.1 %) and Spain (10.6 %) were also the largest exporters of COVID-19 vaccines among EU Member States in 2021.(Figure 16)
Footnote
- ↑ This graph compares COVID-19 related products with products in the same chapter of the Harmonised System (HS) product classification, i.e. they are compared with other similar products that are however not directly used in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It should be noted that most COVID-19 related products cannot be precisely identified and they are grouped together with products not specific to COVID-19. Nevertheless, some trends can be observed.
These products were selected based on an indicative list elaborated by the Commission in the framework of Commission Decision N° C(2020) 2146, on the basis of a joint WCO/WHO list for COVID-19 medical supplies. More information can be found in this document.
Source data for tables and graphs
Data sources
EU data is taken from Eurostat's COMEXT database. COMEXT is the reference database for international trade in goods. It provides access not only to both recent and historical data from the EU Member States but also to statistics of a significant number of third countries. International trade aggregated and detailed statistics disseminated via the Eurostat website are compiled from COMEXT data according to a monthly process.
Data are collected by the competent national authorities of the Member States and compiled according to a harmonised methodology established by EU regulations before transmission to Eurostat. For extra-EU trade, the statistical information is mainly provided by the traders on the basis of customs declarations.
EU data are compiled according to Community guidelines and may, therefore, differ from national data published by the Member States. Statistics on extra-EU trade are calculated as the sum of trade of each of the 27 EU Member States with countries outside the EU. In other words, the EU is considered as a single trading entity and trade flows are measured into and out of the area, but not within it.
The United Kingdom is considered as an extra-EU partner country for the EU-27 for the whole period covered by this article. However, the United Kingdom was still part of the internal market until the end of the transitory period (31 December 2020), meaning that data on trade with the United Kingdom are still based on statistical concepts applicable to trade between the EU Member States. Consequently, while imports from any other extra-EU-27 trade partner are grouped by country of origin, the United Kingdom data reflect the country of consignment. In practice this means that the goods imported by the EU-27 from the United Kingdom were physically transported from the United Kingdom but part of these goods could have been of other origin than the United Kingdom. For this reason, data on trade with the United Kingdom are not fully comparable with data on trade with other extra-EU-27 trade partners.
Methodology
In this article some products are classified as COVID-19 related products. They are compared over time and across countries, and also to products in the same chapter of the Harmonised System (HS) product classification, i.e. they are compared to other similar products that are however not directly used in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It should be noted that most COVID-19 related products cannot be precisely identified and they are grouped together with products not specific to COVID-19. Nevertheless, some trends can be observed.
According to the EU concepts and definitions, extra-EU trade statistics (trade between EU Member States and non-EU countries) do not record exchanges involving goods in transit, placed in a customs warehouse or given temporary admission (for trade fairs, temporary exhibitions, tests, etc.). This is known as ‘special trade’. The partner is the country of final destination of the goods for exports and the country of origin for imports.
Product classification
The COIVID-19 products in this article were selected based on an indicative list elaborated by the Commission in the framework of Commission Decision N° C(2020) 2146, on the basis of a joint WCO/WHO list for COVID-19 medical supplies. More information can be found in this document.
Unit of measure
Trade values are expressed in millions or billions (109) of euros. They correspond to the statistical value, i.e. to the amount which would be invoiced in the event of sale or purchase at the national border of the reporting country. It is called a FOB value (free on board) for exports and a CIF value (cost, insurance, freight) for imports.
Context
Trade is an important indicator of Europe’s prosperity and place in the world. The bloc is deeply integrated into global markets both for the products it sources and the exports it sells. The EU trade policy is an important element of the external dimension of the ‘Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’ and is one of the main pillars of the EU’s relations with the rest of the world.
Because the 27 EU Member States share a single market and a single external border, they also have a single trade policy. EU Member States speak and negotiate collectively, both in the World Trade Organization, where the rules of international trade are agreed and enforced, and with individual trading partners. This common policy enables them to speak with one voice in trade negotiations, maximising their impact in such negotiations. This is even more important in a globalised world in which economies tend to cluster together in regional groups.
The openness of the EU’s trade regime has meant that the EU is the biggest player on the global trading scene and remains a good region to do business with. Thanks to the ease of modern transport and communications, it is now easier to produce, buy and sell goods around the world which gives European companies of every size the potential to trade outside Europe.
Direct access to
- International trade in goods (t_ext_go), see:
- International trade in goods - long-term indicators (t_ext_go_lti)
- International trade in goods - short-term indicators (t_ext_go_sti)
- International trade in goods (ext_go), see:
- International trade in goods - aggregated data (ext_go_agg)
- International trade in goods - long-term indicators (ext_go_lti)
- International trade in goods - short-term indicators (ext_go_sti)
- International trade in goods - detailed data (detail)
- EU trade since 1988 by SITC (DS-018995)
- International trade in goods statistics - background
- International trade in goods (ESMS metadata file — ext_go_esms)
- User guide on European statistics on international trade in goods