What this market covers
Cables with built in optical transceivers that carry data over light between servers, switches and storage. Data centers, high performance computing and consumer electronics firms buy them.
Typical segments
- Ethernet active optical cables
- InfiniBand cables
- HDMI and display cables
- USB active optical cables
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +14% 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 +15% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €1.06 billion of products under CN code 85447000 (Optical fibre cables made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not containing) from outside the EU in 2025. | 1.06 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 85447000 were up 14% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€930.6 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +14 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 85447000 to countries outside the EU were worth €1.04 billion in 2025. | 1.04 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 85447000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €1.23 billion in 2025. | 1.23 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 85447000 to the EU in 2025, with €358.2 million, or 34% of extra-EU imports. | 358.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 85447000 to the United States were €185.1 million in 2025. | 185.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 85447000 was €21.61 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 21.61 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| France was the largest EU exporter of CN 85447000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €214.4 million. | 214.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 234 enterprises in NACE class C2731 (Manufacture of fibre optic cables) in 2023. | 234 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2731 had net turnover of €1.55 billion in 2023. | 1.55 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2731 employed 7,330 people across the EU in 2023. | 7,330 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 308 private establishments in NAICS 335921 (Fiber optic cable manufacturing) in 2025. | 308 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 335921 employed an average of 13,252 people in US private industry in 2025. | 13,252 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 335921 changed by +15% between 2020 (11,489 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +15 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 335921 was $91,879 in 2025. | 91,879 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
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)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85447000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1063139248
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85447000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 930573325; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 1063139248
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85447000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1037633527
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85447000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1231773848
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85447000, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 358208860
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85447000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 185140082
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85447000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1063139248, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 491913
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter FR, product 85447000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 214382684
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2731, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 234
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2731, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 1550
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2731, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 7330
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 335921, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 335921, annual_avg_estabs 308
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 335921, annual_avg_emplvl 13252
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 11489; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 13252
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 335921, avg_annual_pay 91879
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Data center operators
- Network equipment makers
- Supercomputing sites
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 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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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU active optical cable market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €1.06 billion of goods under CN 85447000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €1.04 billion.
Where does the EU import active optical cable from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United States, Norway, United Kingdom.
What is the average import price of active optical cable in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €21.61 per kilogram for CN 85447000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most active optical cable?
France led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Poland, Germany.
How many US companies are in the active optical cable industry?
BLS counts 308 private establishments in NAICS 335921 (Fiber optic cable manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the active optical cable industry?
Eurostat counts 234 enterprises in NACE class C2731 (Manufacture of fibre optic cables).
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