International Trade of the EU: share of extra-EU imports by member state 2002-2023

During the two decades since 2002, the shares of European Union imports from the rest of the world taken by the individual member states have undergone subtle shifts. In 2021, Germany was still the largest importer, as it was in 2002, however, the Netherlands is the member state which has experienced the greatest increase in its share of imports, increasing from 13 percent to almost 18 percent.
France and Italy have experienced declines in their shares of total EU imports, reflecting the economic problems which both have faced since the great recession and Eurozone crisis. Spain and Belgium have remained steady as the fifth and sixth largest importers, while Poland has emerged as a significant import market, doubling its share of EU imports since 2002.