Mar 8, 2025
IndexBox has just published a new report: EU – Luggage And Handbags – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights.
The article discusses the anticipated upward consumption trend for luggage and handbags in the European Union over the next decade. Market volume is expected to reach 807M units by 2035 with a CAGR of +1.2%, while market value is projected to reach $12.2B at a CAGR of +2.0% during the same period.
Market Forecast
Driven by increasing demand for luggage and handbags in the European Union, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +1.2% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market volume to 807M units by the end of 2035.
In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +2.0% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market value to $12.2B (in nominal wholesale prices) by the end of 2035.
Consumption
European Union’s Consumption of Luggage And Handbags
In 2024, the amount of luggage and handbags consumed in the European Union skyrocketed to 705M units, picking up by 38% on the previous year’s figure. The total consumption volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% from 2013 to 2024; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, consumption reached the peak volume and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.
The value of the luggage market in the European Union skyrocketed to $9.8B in 2024, jumping by 17% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +3.8% from 2013 to 2024; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, the market reached the maximum level in 2024 and is likely to continue growth in years to come.
Consumption By Country
The countries with the highest volumes of consumption in 2024 were the Netherlands (178M units), Italy (120M units) and France (89M units), together comprising 55% of total consumption.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of consumption, amongst the key consuming countries, was attained by the Netherlands (with a CAGR of +19.1%), while consumption for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In value terms, France ($2.2B), the Netherlands ($1.9B) and Italy ($1.7B) constituted the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2024, with a combined 59% share of the total market.
Among the main consuming countries, the Netherlands, with a CAGR of +19.7%, recorded the highest growth rate of market size over the period under review, while market for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In 2024, the highest levels of luggage per capita consumption was registered in the Netherlands (10 units per person), followed by Portugal (2.5 units per person), Greece (2.4 units per person) and Belgium (2.1 units per person), while the world average per capita consumption of luggage was estimated at 1.6 units per person.
From 2013 to 2024, the average annual growth rate of the luggage per capita consumption in the Netherlands stood at +18.6%. The remaining consuming countries recorded the following average annual rates of per capita consumption growth: Portugal (+4.4% per year) and Greece (+5.5% per year).
Production
European Union’s Production of Luggage And Handbags
Luggage production rose notably to 110M units in 2024, with an increase of 8.9% against 2023 figures. In general, production enjoyed a mild expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 with an increase of 113% against the previous year. As a result, production attained the peak volume of 283M units. From 2017 to 2024, production growth failed to regain momentum.
In value terms, luggage production declined dramatically to $6.4B in 2024 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production recorded prominent growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when the production volume increased by 93%. The level of production peaked at $8.3B in 2023, and then declined remarkably in the following year.
Production By Country
The country with the largest volume of luggage production was Italy (34M units), accounting for 31% of total volume. Moreover, luggage production in Italy exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, France (15M units), twofold. Belgium (14M units) ranked third in terms of total production with a 13% share.
In Italy, luggage production remained relatively stable over the period from 2013-2024. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: France (+11.6% per year) and Belgium (+1.8% per year).
Imports
European Union’s Imports of Luggage And Handbags
In 2024, the amount of luggage and handbags imported in the European Union reached 885M units, surging by 4.4% on the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% from 2013 to 2024; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2022 with an increase of 35%. As a result, imports attained the peak of 887M units. From 2023 to 2024, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.
In value terms, luggage imports declined to $13.1B in 2024. Total imports indicated a tangible expansion from 2013 to 2024: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.2% over the last eleven years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2024 figures, imports increased by +44.8% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2022 with an increase of 20%. The level of import peaked at $13.9B in 2023, and then declined in the following year.
Imports By Country
In 2024, the Netherlands (224M units), distantly followed by Italy (143M units), Spain (106M units), France (96M units), Germany (78M units) and Poland (42M units) represented the major importers of luggage and handbags, together creating 78% of total imports. Portugal (36M units), Belgium (28M units) and Greece (28M units) took a little share of total imports.
From 2013 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for the Netherlands (with a CAGR of +14.0%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In value terms, France ($2.5B), the Netherlands ($2.4B) and Italy ($2.1B) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2024, together accounting for 53% of total imports.
The Netherlands, with a CAGR of +14.8%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Imports By Type
Handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials represented the main imported product with an import of around 595M units, which accounted for 67% of total imports. It was distantly followed by cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials (161M units), generating an 18% share of total imports. Handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather (40M units), travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning (39M units), handbags with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (30M units) and cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (16M units) held a minor share of total imports.
From 2013 to 2024, average annual rates of growth with regard to handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials imports of stood at +3.1%. At the same time, cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (+4.6%) and handbags with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard emerged as the fastest-growing type imported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +4.6% from 2013-2024. Handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather and cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning (-5.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials (+11 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials and travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning saw its share reduced by -5.3% and -5.5% from 2013 to 2024, respectively. The shares of the other products remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.
In value terms, the largest types of imported luggage and handbags were handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials ($5B), handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather ($4.2B) and cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials ($3B), together accounting for 94% of total imports.
In terms of the main imported products, handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials, with a CAGR of +5.4%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.
Import Prices By Type
The import price in the European Union stood at $15 per unit in 2024, waning by -10% against the previous year. Over the period from 2013 to 2024, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.7%. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2023 when the import price increased by 19% against the previous year. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $16 per unit, and then fell in the following year.
Prices varied noticeably by the product type; the product with the highest price was handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather ($107 per unit), while the price for travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning ($1.7 per unit) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning (+7.4%), while the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.
Import Prices By Country
In 2024, the import price in the European Union amounted to $15 per unit, shrinking by -10% against the previous year. Over the period from 2013 to 2024, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.7%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2023 an increase of 19% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $16 per unit, and then shrank in the following year.
Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was France ($26 per unit), while Portugal ($10 per unit) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Poland (+7.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Exports
European Union’s Exports of Luggage And Handbags
In 2024, shipments abroad of luggage and handbags decreased by -33.9% to 290M units for the first time since 2020, thus ending a three-year rising trend. Overall, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when exports increased by 51% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of 493M units. From 2017 to 2024, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.
In value terms, luggage exports shrank to $25B in 2024. In general, exports, however, saw a buoyant increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 with an increase of 29% against the previous year. The level of export peaked at $25.9B in 2023, and then reduced slightly in the following year.
Exports By Country
In 2024, Italy (57M units), Spain (55M units) and the Netherlands (48M units) was the largest exporter of luggage and handbags in the European Union, constituting 55% of total export. It was distantly followed by Poland (24M units), Germany (24M units), France (22M units) and Belgium (18M units), together achieving a 30% share of total exports.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Poland (with a CAGR of +5.8%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In value terms, France ($10.1B), Italy ($10B) and Spain ($1.2B) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2024, with a combined 85% share of total exports. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 11%.
Poland, with a CAGR of +15.1%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Exports By Type
Handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials represented the key exported product with an export of around 139M units, which amounted to 48% of total exports. Cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials (49M units) took a 17% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather (14%), travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning (12%) and handbags with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (5.8%). Cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (6.2M units) took a relatively small share of total exports.
Handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials was also the fastest-growing in terms of exports, with a CAGR of +2.2% from 2013 to 2024. At the same time, handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather (+2.1%) and handbags with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (+1.7%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard (-2.6%), cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials (-3.4%) and travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning (-4.1%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2013 to 2024, the share of handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials and handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather increased by +11 and +3.2 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other products remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.
In value terms, handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather ($14.8B) remains the largest type of luggage and handbags supplied in the European Union, comprising 59% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials ($7.2B), with a 29% share of total exports. It was followed by cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials, with a 7.4% share.
From 2013 to 2024, the average annual rate of growth in terms of the value of handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather exports amounted to +7.7%. With regard to the other exported products, the following average annual rates of growth were recorded: handbags with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials (+8.5% per year) and cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials (+2.3% per year).
Export Prices By Type
In 2024, the export price in the European Union amounted to $86 per unit, increasing by 46% against the previous year. Overall, the export price enjoyed prominent growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 an increase of 48%. The level of export peaked in 2024 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.
There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exported products. In 2024, the product with the highest price was handbags with outer surface of leather, composition leather, or patent leather ($356 per unit), while the average price for exports of travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning ($1.4 per unit) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by travel sets; for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning (+7.7%), while the other products experienced more modest paces of growth.
Export Prices By Country
The export price in the European Union stood at $86 per unit in 2024, surging by 46% against the previous year. In general, the export price posted a strong increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when the export price increased by 48%. The level of export peaked in 2024 and is likely to see gradual growth in the near future.
There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2024, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was France ($462 per unit), while Poland ($15 per unit) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+13.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform
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