European textile and apparel exports decelerated in 2023

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.

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).

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.