What this market covers
Filters with fine pores made from alumina, titania or silicon carbide that separate liquids and gases. Used for water, food and drink, chemical and biotech processing.
Typical segments
- Microfiltration membranes
- Ultrafiltration membranes
- Nanofiltration membranes
- Gas separation membranes
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +38% 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 +13% 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 €1.07 billion of products under CN code 84212100 (Machinery and apparatus for filtering or purifying water) from outside the EU in 2025. | 1.07 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 84212100 were up 38% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€772.6 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +38 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 84212100 to countries outside the EU were worth €2.44 billion in 2025. | 2.44 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 84212100 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €2.04 billion in 2025. | 2.04 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 84212100 to the EU in 2025, with €396.2 million, or 37% of extra-EU imports. | 396.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 84212100 to the United States were €318.5 million in 2025. | 318.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 84212100 was €14.87 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 14.87 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 84212100 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €674.3 million. | 674.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 14,754 enterprises in NACE class C2829 (Manufacture of other general-purpose machinery n.e.c.) in 2023. | 14,754 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2829 had net turnover of €90.00 billion in 2023. | 90.00 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2829 employed 383,177 people across the EU in 2023. | 383,177 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 956 private establishments in NAICS 333413 (Industrial and commercial fan and blower and air purification equipment manufacturing) in 2025. | 956 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 333413 employed an average of 33,180 people in US private industry in 2025. | 33,180 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 333413 changed by +13% between 2020 (29,302 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +13 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 333413 was $75,900 in 2025. | 75,900 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 8 papers mentioning "ceramic membrane filtration" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 8 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
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 84212100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1069788973
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84212100, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 772626371; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 1069788973
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84212100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2439542790
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84212100, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2038935720
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84212100, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 396174962
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84212100, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 318458534
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84212100, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1069788973, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 719354
- 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 84212100, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 674292824
- 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 C2829, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 14754
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2829, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 90000
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2829, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 383177
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 333413, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 333413, annual_avg_estabs 956
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 333413, annual_avg_emplvl 33180
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 29302; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 33180
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 333413, avg_annual_pay 75900
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "ceramic membrane filtration"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 8
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Water utilities
- Food and drink processors
- Chemical plants
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
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU ceramic membranes market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €1.07 billion of goods under CN 84212100 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €2.44 billion.
Where does the EU import ceramic membranes from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland.
What is the average import price of ceramic membranes in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €14.87 per kilogram for CN 84212100 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most ceramic membranes?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Italy, France.
How many US companies are in the ceramic membranes industry?
BLS counts 956 private establishments in NAICS 333413 (Industrial and commercial fan and blower and air purification equipment manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the ceramic membranes industry?
Eurostat counts 14,754 enterprises in NACE class C2829 (Manufacture of other general-purpose machinery n.e.c.).
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