What this market covers
Polypropylene, nylon, polyurethane and other plastics molded into bumpers, dashboards, trims and under hood parts. Buyers are vehicle makers and molders supplying them.
Typical segments
- Interior trim plastics
- Exterior body plastics
- Under hood engineering plastics
- Reinforced composites
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +64% 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 -1% 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 €497.3 million of products under CN code 39263000 (Fittings for furniture, coachwork and the like, of plastics) from outside the EU in 2025. | 497.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 39263000 were up 64% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€303.8 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +64 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 39263000 to countries outside the EU were worth €853.7 million in 2025. | 853.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 39263000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €2.02 billion in 2025. | 2.02 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 39263000 to the EU in 2025, with €208.0 million, or 42% of extra-EU imports. | 208.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 39263000 to the United States were €134.7 million in 2025. | 134.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 39263000 was €14.93 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 14.93 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 39263000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €381.6 million. | 381.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 23,690 enterprises in NACE class C2229 (Manufacture of other plastic products) in 2023. | 23,690 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2229 had net turnover of €95.00 billion in 2023. | 95.00 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2229 employed 550,000 people across the EU in 2023. | 550,000 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 6,540 private establishments in NAICS 326199 (All other plastics product manufacturing) in 2025. | 6,540 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 326199 employed an average of 287,654 people in US private industry in 2025. | 287,654 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 326199 changed by -1% between 2020 (289,590 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | -1 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 326199 was $67,851 in 2025. | 67,851 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 39263000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 497287825
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39263000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 303764769; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 497287825
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39263000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 853683673
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39263000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2020344150
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39263000, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 207961100
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39263000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 134679100
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39263000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 497287825, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 333124
- 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 DE, product 39263000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 381593337
- 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 C2229, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 23690
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2229, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 95000
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2229, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 550000
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 326199, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 326199, annual_avg_estabs 6540
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 326199, annual_avg_emplvl 287654
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 289590; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 287654
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 326199, avg_annual_pay 67851
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Plastic molders
- Tier one suppliers
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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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU automotive plastic market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €497.3 million of goods under CN 39263000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €853.7 million.
Where does the EU import automotive plastic from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Türkiye, United Kingdom, Korea, Republic of.
What is the average import price of automotive plastic in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €14.93 per kilogram for CN 39263000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most automotive plastic?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by France, Poland.
How many US companies are in the automotive plastic industry?
BLS counts 6,540 private establishments in NAICS 326199 (All other plastics product manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the automotive plastic industry?
Eurostat counts 23,690 enterprises in NACE class C2229 (Manufacture of other plastic products).
Ask about this market
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- Where does the 497.3 figure for the Automotive plastic Market come from?
- How big is the Automotive plastic Market?
- What does the Automotive plastic Market cover?
- Who are the largest suppliers in the Automotive plastic Market?
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