-7 % change
Extra-EU imports of CN 30061090 were down 7% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€392.1 million), calculated from Eurostat values.
Eurostat1.07 EUR billion
EU exports of CN 30061090 to countries outside the EU were worth €1.07 billion in 2025.
Eurostat1.49 EUR billion
Trade between EU member states in CN 30061090 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €1.49 billion in 2025.
EurostatSource: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved -7% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +3% since 2020.
What this market covers
Surgical threads that the body breaks down over time, so they need no removal. Hospitals, surgery centres and veterinary clinics use them to close wounds and incisions.
Typical segments
- Polyglactin sutures
- Polydioxanone sutures
- Catgut sutures
- Antibacterial coated sutures
Who buys
- Hospitals
- Ambulatory surgery centres
- Veterinary clinics
Largest non-EU suppliers to the EU
| Country | Import value |
|---|---|
| United States from 1995 -> 2000) | 150.7 EUR million |
| Mexico | 59.7 EUR million |
| United Kingdom | 34.4 EUR million |
| Dominican Republic | 25.7 EUR million |
| Thailand | 22.4 EUR million |
| China | 16.0 EUR million |
Key figures
Each figure links to the page it came from.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €365.1 million of products under CN code 30061090 (Sterile suture materials, incl. sterile absorbable surgical or dental yarns) from outside the EU in 2025. | 365.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 30061090 were down 7% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€392.1 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | -7 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 30061090 to countries outside the EU were worth €1.07 billion in 2025. | 1.07 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 30061090 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €1.49 billion in 2025. | 1.49 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United States from 1995 -> 2000) was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 30061090 to the EU in 2025, with €150.7 million, or 41% of extra-EU imports. | 150.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 30061090 to the United States were €216.1 million in 2025. | 216.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 30061090 was €179.02 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 179.02 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Belgium was the largest EU exporter of CN 30061090 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €426.7 million. | 426.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 63,227 enterprises in NACE class C3250 (Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies) in 2023. | 63,227 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C3250 had net turnover of €105.31 billion in 2021. | 105.31 EUR billion | 2021 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C3250 employed 600,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 600,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 3,528 private establishments in NAICS 339113 (Surgical appliance and supplies manufacturing) in 2025. | 3,528 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 339113 employed an average of 105,116 people in US private industry in 2025. | 105,116 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 339113 changed by +3% between 2020 (102,053 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +3 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 339113 was $102,311 in 2025. | 102,311 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| The FDA has recorded 37 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture". | 37 510(k) clearances | 2026 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| 1 of those clearances were issued from 2021 to 2025. | 1 510(k) clearances | 2025 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| Ethicon, Inc. holds 9 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture". | 9 510(k) clearances | 2026 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| United States Surgical, A Division Of Tyco Healthc holds 5 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture". | 5 510(k) clearances | 2026 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| Aesculap, Inc. holds 3 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture". | 3 510(k) clearances | 2026 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| Demetech Corp. holds 3 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture". | 3 510(k) clearances | 2026 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| Tepha, Inc. holds 3 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture". | 3 510(k) clearances | 2026 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| Arc Medical Supplies (Beijing) Co, Ltd. holds 2 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture". | 2 510(k) clearances | 2026 | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) |
| PubMed indexed 64 papers mentioning "absorbable suture" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 64 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed) |
Companies to watch
Ethicon, Inc.
9 FDA 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture".
United States Surgical, A Division Of Tyco Healthc
5 FDA 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture".
Aesculap, Inc.
3 FDA 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture".
Demetech Corp.
3 FDA 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture".
Tepha, Inc.
3 FDA 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture".
Arc Medical Supplies (Beijing) Co, Ltd.
2 FDA 510(k) clearances for devices named "absorbable suture".
What the full report covers
- 1
Executive summary
The answer on two pages: size, growth and what drives it.
- 2
Market size and outlook
History, the current year and a five-year view with base, low and high cases.
- 3
Segments and regions
Splits by product, buyer and geography across the US, Europe and MEA.
- 4
Company profiles
The main players, how they compete and where they are investing.
- 5
Data and method
Every figure in Excel, with the sources and assumptions behind it.
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU absorbable suture market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €365.1 million of goods under CN 30061090 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €1.07 billion.
Where does the EU import absorbable suture from?
United States from 1995 -> 2000) was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. The next largest were Mexico, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic.
What is the average import price of absorbable suture in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €179.02 per kilogram for CN 30061090 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most absorbable suture?
Belgium led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Netherlands, Germany.
How many absorbable suture devices are cleared by the FDA?
openFDA lists 37 510(k) clearances for devices named absorbable suture.
Which companies hold the most FDA clearances for absorbable suture?
By 510(k) count: Ethicon, Inc., United States Surgical, A Division Of Tyco Healthc, Aesculap, Inc., Demetech Corp..
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 365105697
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 392084477; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 365105697
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1065551748
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1485206620
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner US, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 150695547
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 216053626
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 30061090, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 365105697, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 20394
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
DS-045409, reporter BE, product 30061090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 426651668
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3250, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 63227
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3250, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2021, 105308
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3250, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 600000
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 339113, 2025 (2026-11-04)
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339113, annual_avg_estabs 3528
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 339113, 2025 (2026-11-04)
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339113, annual_avg_emplvl 105116
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 339113, 2025 (2026-11-04)
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 102053; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 105116
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 339113, 2025 (2026-11-04)
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339113, avg_annual_pay 102311
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
openFDA device/510k device_name:"absorbable suture", sum of counts by decision_date = 37
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
openFDA device/510k decision_date 2021-2025 count = 1
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances by applicant, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
applicant.exact "ETHICON, Inc." count 9
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances by applicant, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
applicant.exact "United States Surgical, A Division of Tyco Healthc" count 5
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances by applicant, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
applicant.exact "Aesculap, Inc." count 3
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances by applicant, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
applicant.exact "Demetech Corp." count 3
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances by applicant, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
applicant.exact "Tepha, Inc." count 3
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA): openFDA 510(k) clearances by applicant, device_name "absorbable suture" (2026-11-04)
applicant.exact "Arc Medical Supplies (Beijing) Co, Ltd." count 2
- U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed): PubMed search "absorbable suture"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
esearch count 64
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