What this market covers
Polypropylene made from renewable feedstocks such as used cooking oil or plant waste. Buyers are packaging, automotive and consumer goods makers.
Typical segments
- Injection moulding grades
- Film grades
- Fibre grades
- Automotive compounds
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +33% 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 €1.68 billion of products under CN code 39021000 (Polypropylene, in primary forms) from outside the EU in 2025. | 1.68 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 39021000 were up 33% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€1.27 billion), calculated from Eurostat values. | +33 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 39021000 to countries outside the EU were worth €1.05 billion in 2025. | 1.05 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 39021000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €5.66 billion in 2025. | 5.66 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 39021000 to the EU in 2025, with €560.8 million, or 33% of extra-EU imports. | 560.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 39021000 to the United States were €77.3 million in 2025. | 77.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 39021000 was €1.11 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 1.11 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Belgium was the largest EU exporter of CN 39021000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €223.1 million. | 223.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 2,353 enterprises in NACE class C2016 (Manufacture of plastics in primary forms) in 2022. | 2,353 enterprises | 2022 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2016 had net turnover of €110.91 billion in 2023. | 110.91 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2016 employed 142,189 people across the EU in 2023. | 142,189 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 1,635 private establishments in NAICS 325211 (Plastics material and resin manufacturing) in 2025. | 1,635 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 325211 employed an average of 58,603 people in US private industry in 2025. | 58,603 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 325211 changed by +1% between 2020 (58,141 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +1 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 325211 was $116,913 in 2025. | 116,913 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 39021000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1679477309
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39021000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 1265589814; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 1679477309
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39021000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1048550312
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39021000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 5656611657
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39021000, partner SA, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 560753681
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39021000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 77288481
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39021000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1679477309, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 15166202
- 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 BE, product 39021000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 223098573
- 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 C2016, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2022, 2353
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2016, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 110914
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2016, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 142189
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 325211, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325211, annual_avg_estabs 1635
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325211, annual_avg_emplvl 58603
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 58141; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 58603
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 325211, avg_annual_pay 116913
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Packaging converters
- Automotive suppliers
- Consumer goods firms
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 bio polypropylene market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €1.68 billion of goods under CN 39021000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €1.05 billion.
Where does the EU import bio polypropylene from?
Saudi Arabia was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Korea, Republic of, United Kingdom, Viet Nam.
What is the average import price of bio polypropylene in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €1.11 per kilogram for CN 39021000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most bio polypropylene?
Belgium led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, Spain.
How many US companies are in the bio polypropylene industry?
BLS counts 1,635 private establishments in NAICS 325211 (Plastics material and resin manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the bio polypropylene industry?
Eurostat counts 2,353 enterprises in NACE class C2016 (Manufacture of plastics in primary forms).
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