Translated by
Roberta HERRERA
Published
Feb 22, 2024
The European Union experienced a 3% decline in apparel exports and a 4% decline in textile exports last year. This deceleration follows the growth witnessed in 2021 and 2022, yet the industry maintains levels surpassing those pre-pandemic.
According to the French Fashion Institute, the EU exported €37.3 billion worth of apparel last year, compared to €29 billion in 2019. Over the year, Europe saw a 4% increase in exports to Asia (€9.4 billion) and a 3% increase in exports to Mediterranean countries (€2.5 billion), propelled by Turkey (+30%).
However, orders dwindled for the EU’s top three customers: Switzerland (-8%), the United Kingdom (-5%), and the United States (-8%). Notable declines were also recorded in Canadian (-9%) and Mexican (-40%) orders.
On the textile front, exports dipped by 4% to €27.1 billion over the year. For comparison, they had reached €23.8 billion in 2019. The EU’s principal customers, the United Kingdom and the United States, witnessed declines of 7% and 8%, respectively. Only Asia maintained its order levels, thanks to growth from China (+9%) and India (+17%), as well as stability from Vietnam.
Imports below pre-Covid levels
In 2022, apparel imports surged by 36%, and textile imports by 16%. As inflation dampened European consumption in 2023, apparel and textile imports declined by 16% and 20%, respectively.
![](https://media.fashionnetwork.com/m/c3b5/0ca1/b3ac/5c78/4604/3afc/3c5c/3206/06f5/69cb/69cb.jpg)
The EU imported €83.2 billion worth of apparel last year, compared to €87.9 billion in 2019. While Asia, representing €60.2 billion in imports, declined by 20%, the Mediterranean region contracted by 11%. The top three suppliers, China (-22%), Bangladesh (-21%), and Turkey (-13%), experienced declines, followed by India (-13%), Vietnam (-15%), Cambodia (-13%), and Pakistan (-18%).
Among the top 20 apparel suppliers, growth was observed only in Tunisia (+3%), the United Kingdom (+6%), the United States (+7%), Albania (+8%), Serbia (+4%), and Egypt (+1%). As recently stated by the IFM, this overall decline reflects a return to normalcy after massive orders were placed post-pandemic (see our dedicated article).
![](https://media.fashionnetwork.com/m/6f3b/f9d3/028a/a7aa/f68d/5e18/7a51/91b4/adb7/e298/e298.jpg)
This normalization is also evident in textile imports, which are reverting to levels similar to those of 2019. Over the year, imports from Asia collapsed by 24%, while Mediterranean productions decreased by 18%. Only the United Kingdom (+10%), United States (+10%), Serbia (+5%), and Morocco (+5%) experienced increases.
Copyright © 2024 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.