China was the largest outside supplier.
What this market covers
Hardware and cloud services used to hold digital data, from disk arrays to object storage. Buyers include data centers, enterprises, media firms and public cloud operators.
Typical segments
- Enterprise disk arrays
- Flash storage systems
- Cloud object storage
- Tape and archival storage
- Hyperconverged storage
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value fell 54% 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.
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 €56.2 million of products under CN code 84717030 (Disk storage units for automatic data-processing machines, optical, incl. magneto-optical) from outside the EU in 2025. | 56.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 84717030 were down 54% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€121.0 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | -54 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 84717030 to countries outside the EU were worth €29.4 million in 2025. | 29.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 84717030 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €52.8 million in 2025. | 52.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 84717030 to the EU in 2025, with €45.1 million, or 80% of extra-EU imports. | 45.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 84717030 to the United States were €6.3 million in 2025. | 6.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 84717030 was €52.92 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 52.92 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Netherlands was the largest EU exporter of CN 84717030 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €8.5 million. | 8.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 5,090 enterprises in NACE class C2620 (Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment) in 2023. | 5,090 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 286 private establishments in NAICS 334112 (Computer storage device manufacturing) in 2025. | 286 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 334112 employed an average of 13,193 people in US private industry in 2025. | 13,193 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 334112 changed by -22% between 2020 (16,835 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | -22 % since 2020 | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 334112 was $208,311 in 2025. | 208,311 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 84717030, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 56175597
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84717030, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 121039412; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 56175597
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84717030, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 29423234
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84717030, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 52786108
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84717030, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 45122926
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84717030, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 6278262
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84717030, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 56175597, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 10615
- 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 NL, product 84717030, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 8543826
- 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 C2620, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 5090
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 334112, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 10
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334112, annual_avg_estabs 286
- Figure 11
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334112, annual_avg_emplvl 13193
- Figure 12
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 16835; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 13193
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334112, avg_annual_pay 208311
- Figure 10
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Data center operators
- Enterprise IT departments
- Cloud service providers
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 data storage market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €56.2 million of goods under CN 84717030 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €29.4 million.
Where does the EU import data storage from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Thailand, Mexico, Taiwan.
What is the average import price of data storage in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €52.92 per kilogram for CN 84717030 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most data storage?
Netherlands led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Czechia, Denmark.
How many US companies are in the data storage industry?
BLS counts 286 private establishments in NAICS 334112 (Computer storage device manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the data storage industry?
Eurostat counts 5,090 enterprises in NACE class C2620 (Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment).
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