Brussels: Europe and the Arab World

With the holiday season approaching, buying toys is a staple on many people's to-do lists. According to figures released in Brussels by Eurostat, the European Union's statistical office, in 2024 the EU was a net importer of toys from the rest of the world. Its imports from outside the EU amounted to €7.1 billion (an increase of €0.6 billion compared to 2023), while its exports from outside the EU reached €2.5 billion (an increase of €0.2 billion).

China was the largest exporter of toys to the EU, accounting for 80% of imports (valued at €5.6 billion), far ahead of Vietnam at 6% (€418 million) and the UK at 3% (€188 million).

Germany and the Netherlands were the largest importers of toys from outside the EU, each accounting for 17%, while France accounted for 14% of total imports. The United Kingdom was the top export destination.

The UK was the leading non-EU export destination (33%, €838 million), followed by Switzerland (13%, €315 million) and the United States (10%, €245 million).

Data indicates that three EU countries accounted for nearly 60% of non-EU exports by value. The Czech Republic (28%) was the leading exporter of toys from the EU to the rest of the world, ahead of Germany (17%) and Belgium (13%).