What this market covers
Tight fitting garments and stockings that apply graded pressure to support blood flow, reduce swelling and aid recovery after surgery or injury. Patients, hospitals and athletes buy them.
Typical segments
- Medical compression stockings
- Surgical compression garments
- Sports compression wear
- Lymphedema garments
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +5% 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.
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 €11.0 million of products under CN code 61151090 (Graduated compression hosiery of textile materials, knitted or crocheted) from outside the EU in 2025. | 11.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 61151090 were up 5% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€10.5 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +5 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 61151090 to countries outside the EU were worth €20.6 million in 2025. | 20.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 61151090 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €39.9 million in 2025. | 39.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 61151090 to the EU in 2025, with €2.9 million, or 27% of extra-EU imports. | 2.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 61151090 to the United States were €836 thousand in 2025. | 836 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 61151090 was €30.18 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 30.18 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 61151090 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €9.9 million. | 9.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 1,600 enterprises in NACE class C1431 (Manufacture of knitted and crocheted hosiery) in 2023. | 1,600 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C1431 had net turnover of €6.25 billion in 2023. | 6.25 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1431 employed 36,338 people across the EU in 2023. | 36,338 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 |
| PubMed indexed 72 papers mentioning "compression stockings" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 72 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 61151090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 11015698
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 61151090, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 10497002; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 11015698
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 61151090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 20553434
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 61151090, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 39926193
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 61151090, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2931687
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 61151090, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 835873
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 61151090, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 11015698, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 3650
- 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 61151090, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 9897998
- 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 C1431, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 1600
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1431, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 6252
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1431, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 36338
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 339113, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339113, annual_avg_estabs 3528
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339113, annual_avg_emplvl 105116
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 102053; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 105116
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 339113, avg_annual_pay 102311
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "compression stockings"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 72
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Patients
- Hospitals and clinics
- Athletes
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
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU compression garments and stockings market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €11.0 million of goods under CN 61151090 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €20.6 million.
Where does the EU import compression garments and stockings from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Switzerland, Türkiye, United States.
What is the average import price of compression garments and stockings in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €30.18 per kilogram for CN 61151090 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most compression garments and stockings?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Italy, France.
How many US companies are in the compression garments and stockings industry?
BLS counts 3,528 private establishments in NAICS 339113 (Surgical appliance and supplies manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the compression garments and stockings industry?
Eurostat counts 1,600 enterprises in NACE class C1431 (Manufacture of knitted and crocheted hosiery).
Free sample
Get a free sample of this report
We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. You owe us nothing for asking.
- Full table of contents
- Two sample chapters
- Method note and data outline