May 10, 2023
More than half of imports from China and the United States
In 2022, over half of the EU’s high-tech imports from non-EU countries came from China (38 %; EUR183 billion) and the United States (19 %; EUR 91 billion), with other top partners being Switzerland (6 %; EUR 30 billion), Taiwan (5 %; EUR 23 billion) and the United Kingdom and Vietnam (each 4 %; EUR 20 and EUR18 billion, respectively).
The most significant category of high-tech products imported from non-EU countries was electronics-telecommunications (EUR 202 billion).
For three of the top six high-tech import partners, the largest imported category was electronics-telecommunications: Vietnam (74% of high-tech imports from Vietnam; EUR13 billion), Taiwan (69%; EUR16 billion) and China (55%; EUR101 billion).
For Switzerland, the largest category was pharmacy (68% of high-tech imports from Switzerland; EUR20 billion). For the United States (35%; EUR32 billion) and the United Kingdom (28%; EUR6 billion), it was aerospace.
Pharmacy was the largest category in exports
For high-tech exports to non-EU countries, the United States was the top trading partner in 2022 (26 %; EUR118 billion), with China second (12 %; EUR 53 billion). These countries were followed by the United Kingdom (9 %; EUR 42 billion), Switzerland (6 %; EUR 28 billion), Japan (4 %; EUR19 billion) and Türkiye (3 %; EUR 12 billion).
The most significant category of high-tech products exported to non-EU countries was pharmacy (EUR 145 billion).
Pharmacy was the largest exported category for three of the top six high-tech export partners: Japan (56 % of high-tech exports to Japan; EUR11 billion), Switzerland (50 %; EUR 14 billion) and the United States (49 %; EUR 57 billion).
The largest category for China (38 % of high-tech exports to China; EUR 20 billion) and the United Kingdom (24 %; EUR 10 billion) was electronics-telecommunication. For Türkiye, it was aerospace (38 %; EUR 5 billion).
For seven categories, the United States was the largest export destination for the EU. Different top partners were registered for electronics-telecommunications (China) and computers and office machines (the United Kingdom).
For more information:
- Statistics Explained article on international trade and production of high-tech products
- Thematic section on international trade in goods
- Database on international trade in goods
- Statistics 4 Beginners on trade
Methodological notes:
- Data used the high-tech aggregation by SITC Rev.4.
- As of January 2021 onwards, data on trade with the United Kingdom is based on a mixed concept. In application of the Withdrawal Agreement Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, for trade with Northern Ireland, the statistical concepts applicable are the same as those for trade between Member States. On the other hand, for trade with the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland), the same statistical concepts are applicable as for trade with any other extra-EU partner country. For these reasons, data on trade with the United Kingdom are not fully comparable with data on trade with other extra-EU trade partners, and for reference periods before and after the end of 2020.