Lit candles.

In 2024, the EU imported €513 million worth of candles from countries outside the EU, a 17% increase compared to 2023 (€437 million). 

At the same time, the EU exported €450 million worth of candles to countries outside the EU, a 2% decrease compared with 2023 (€460 million). 

The Netherlands was the largest EU importer of candles from countries outside the EU with €112 million worth of candles in 2024, representing 22% of total imports of candles by value, ahead of Germany (€80 million, 16%) and France (€64 million, 12%).

Imports of candles from outside the EU came mainly from China (€382 million, 75%), followed by Vietnam (€30 million, 6%) and the United Kingdom (€28 million, 6%).

Trade in candles, 2024. Infographic - Click below to see full dataset.

Source dataset: DS-045409

Among the EU countries, Poland was the largest exporter of candles to countries outside the EU with €85 million in 2024 (19% of total exports of candles by value), ahead of France (€80 million, 18%), Czechia and Denmark (both €47 million, 10%).

Almost one third of EU candle exports to countries outside the EU went to the United Kingdom (€127 million, 28%). The remaining EU candle exports went mainly to Switzerland (€81 million, 18%) and the United States (€68 million, 15%).

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Methodological notes

Dutch and Belgian trade flows are over-estimated because of the so-called ‘Rotterdam effect’ (or quasi-transit trade): goods originating in other EU countries that are exported through Dutch and Belgian ports are, according to EU rules, recorded as extra-EU exports by the Netherlands and Belgium. Similar considerations apply to imports from countries outside the EU that arrive in Dutch and Belgian ports and are re-exported to other EU countries.

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