Exports of rubber and plastics machines 2008 - 2022
Shift in export markets for rubber and plastics machinery in three phases since 2008
Rubber and plastics machinery export markets went through three phases from 2008 to 2022.
Update October 4, 2023 - From 2008 to 2013, exports of rubber and plastics machinery to the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) helped the industry out of the 2008-09 crisis.
The export share to the EU dropped to 30% during this period, while that to the BRIC countries increased to 28%.
The export share to the MIST countries (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey) also peaked at 11% during this period.
From 2014, a shift back to the export markets that dominated before the global economic crisis began. By 2016/17, the share of exports to the EU had exceeded its pre-crisis level at 37%, while the share of exports to the BRIC countries fell below its pre-crisis level to 19%. Exports to the USA, which had risen sharply to 13% by 2013, increased further to 16% during this period. Exports to the MIST countries maintained their high post-crisis level at 10%.
The third phase of the export shift began in 2017/18 and shapes the picture until 2022. Once again, the share of exports to the EU declines, dropping significantly to 28% (2022). Brexit contributed to this, but does not explain the full extent of this decline. In this third phase, the USA just about maintains its export share at 15%, and even 18% in the meantime. Exports to the MIST countries fall back to 7%, their pre-crisis level.
The BRIC countries became the most important export region for the rubber and plastics machinery sector in the third phase. The export share to these countries rose to 29% in 2022, surpassing the EU for the first time.
China export country number one from 2008 to 2014 and since 2021
In the first phase, China is one of the export countries that helped rubber and plastics machinery out of the crisis. In the second phase of the shift in export countries, the USA becomes the country outside the EU with the highest export share.
Since 2018, with a break in 2020, China has become the number one largest export country for rubber and plastics machinery.
Declining export share of countries with low export share
Export quotas to countries outside the EU, which have export shares of less than five percent, increased in the first phase of the export shift. This concerns countries such as Russia, Turkey, India, Brazil and Mexico. The export share to these five countries was 16% before the global economic crisis, then climbed to 18% by 2011.
In the second phase of export shifting, the export share to these low export countries fell to 14% and 13% respectively by 2017/18, below the pre-crisis level.
In the third phase of the export shift, the countries with smaller export shares were unable to further increase their export share. It remained at 14% (2021) and 13% (2022).
