Hungary's agricultural film market is approximately 40,000 tons/year, with import dependence exceeding 75% and limited domestic production capacity. In June 2026, China's LLDPE raw material price remained in the 8,200–8,600 CNY/ton range, indicating moderate cost pressure. Sino-Hungarian trade relations continue to deepen, and China's agricultural film exports to Hungary are price-competitive. However, EU green regulations (SUP Directive and recycling targets) pose medium-to-long-term substitution pressure on traditional PE agricultural films. ⚠ Monitor EU plastic tax policy developments, which may increase the overall cost of imported agricultural films.
Source: SCI99 (2026-06-28), China Customs (2025 Annual), Eurostat (2025Q4)
Hungary's agricultural film market supply is predominantly import-driven, with domestic output below 10,000 tons/year. Demand is led by greenhouse film and mulch film, accounting for approximately 55% and 30% of consumption, respectively. Apparent consumption in 2025 was approximately 42,000 tons, with the supply gap filled by imports from Germany, Italy, and China.
| Indicator | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Output (10k tons) | 0.85 | 0.90 | 0.92 |
| Imports (10k tons) | 3.10 | 3.25 | 3.40 |
| Exports (10k tons) | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.11 |
| Apparent Consumption (10k tons) | 3.85 | 4.03 | 4.21 |
Source: Eurostat, Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) (2025Q4 data; 2025 figures are industry estimates, carried forward)
China's agricultural film industry has ample capacity, with total output of approximately 2.78 million tons in 2025 and operating rates maintained at 64%–67%. In June 2026, mainstream LLDPE (7042) transaction prices in East China were 8,350–8,550 CNY/ton, down 0.8% month-on-month. China's agricultural film exports are generally rising steadily, with significant growth in exports to Central and Eastern Europe.
Source: SCI99 (2026-06-28), Longzhong Information (2026-06-27), China Customs (2025 Annual)
Hungary's agricultural film end-market prices are influenced by euro exchange rates and import costs. In June 2026, local wholesale prices were approximately 1,850–2,100 EUR/ton (approx. 14,500–16,500 CNY/ton). Import sources are led by Germany (approx. 35%) and Italy (approx. 20%), with China's share rising to approximately 12%, showing a steady upward trend.
Source: Eurostat, Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) (2025Q4; June 2026 wholesale prices are industry estimates, carried forward)
Hungary's imported agricultural films can be categorized by function into greenhouse film, mulch film, silage film, and functional films. Greenhouse film is dominated by three-layer co-extruded EVA/PE composite film with higher unit prices; mulch film is primarily LLDPE-based with higher price sensitivity. Chinese products have a significant cost-performance advantage in the mulch film segment.
| Product Segment | Import Share | Reference Price (EUR/ton) | Demand Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse Film (incl. EVA composite) | ~50% | 2,000–2,400 | → Stable |
| Mulch Film (mainly LLDPE) | ~30% | 1,600–1,900 | ↑ Growing |
| Silage Film | ~12% | 1,800–2,200 | → Stable |
| Functional Film (degradable, etc.) | ~8% | 2,500–3,200 | ↑ Rapid Growth |
Source: Eurostat detailed HS code data (2025Q4), AMI Consulting European Agricultural Film Report (2025)
As the core agricultural covering material in Hungary, the supply-demand gap for agricultural film remains above 30,000 tons/year. In 2025, Hungary's domestic output was only 9,200 tons, while consumption reached 42,100 tons. The gap is entirely filled by imports. On the inventory side, importers typically maintain 1-2 months of safety stock, with seasonal restocking peaks in Q1 and Q4 each year.
Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) (2025Q4), Eurostat Trade Data (2025 Annual)
The core raw material for agricultural film is LLDPE, accounting for approximately 60%–70% of cost. In June 2026, the average LLDPE price in East China was 8,420 CNY/ton, while spot LLDPE in Antwerp, Europe, was approximately 1,080–1,140 EUR/ton. The price differential from Chinese production areas to Hungary's CIF price is mainly reflected in freight and tariff costs.
| Raw Material / Intermediate | China Origin Price | Hungary CIF Estimate | Spread Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLDPE (7042) | 8,420 CNY/ton | 1,050–1,120 EUR/ton | approx. 18–22% |
| EVA (agricultural film grade) | 12,800 CNY/ton | 1,650–1,780 EUR/ton | approx. 15–20% |
| HDPE (blown film grade) | 8,100 CNY/ton | 980–1,050 EUR/ton | approx. 16–21% |
Source: SCI99 (2026-06-28), Longzhong Information (2026-06-27), Platts Petrochemical Price Assessment (June 2026)
Hungary's GDP growth was approximately 1.2% in 2025, with expectations improving to 1.8%–2.2% in 2026. Agriculture accounts for approximately 3.8% of GDP. Sino-Hungarian bilateral trade volume was approximately USD 15.8 billion in 2025, making China Hungary's largest trading partner outside the EU. The exchange rate is approximately 1 CNY ≈ 52 HUF (June 2026).
Source: World Bank (2025), China Customs (2025 Annual), Hungarian National Bank (MNB) (2026-06), European Commission CAP Database
⚠ Risks: Tightening EU SUP Directive and plastic packaging recycling regulations may increase compliance costs for traditional PE agricultural film; high HUF exchange rate volatility affects importer purchasing willingness; geopolitical uncertainty persists.
▲ Opportunities: Chinese agricultural films offer clear cost-performance advantages; deepening Sino-Hungarian Belt & Road cooperation brings trade facilitation; degradable agricultural films and high-performance greenhouse films present substitution and upgrade opportunities in the Hungarian market, with Chinese enterprises possessing technical reserves in the functional film segment.
Source: European Commission Official Journal (2025-2026), Hungarian National Bank (MNB) (2026-06), China Ministry of Commerce (2025 Annual)
Note: Data items marked "carried forward" indicate that as of June 30, 2026, the latest publicly available monthly update is not yet released, and the most recent available official or industry data is used.