Eu clothing imports recovered significantly in October, rebounding sharply from the low levels of the past year. Imports from non-EU countries rose 28.6 per cent, 19.6 per cent in euros and 23.5 per cent in dollars, but were still lower than two years ago.
Bangladesh was the main driver of the import growth, with imports from Bangladesh up 39.5% year-on-year in October and imports up 33.8% year-on-year in euro terms, with imports exceeding levels seen in the past three years and imports still below 2022 levels. China's growth has been more modest than Bangladesh's. In the last five years, imports from China increased by 6%, while imports from Bangladesh increased by 86%, highlighting the significant increase in Bangladesh's position in EU clothing imports.
In the third quarter of this year, EU clothing imports recovered sharply, with different product categories performing differently. Imports of women's/girls' knitted suits and trousers (HS 6104) increased significantly by 13%. T-shirt imports rose 17.6 per cent, recovering from a low base last year when sales fell 19.8 per cent. Sales of woven shirts for women/girls (HS 6206) also increased by 10.6%.
Over the past five years, performance across all categories has been mixed. Sales of men's/boys' knitted suits and trousers (HS 6103) increased by 29%. T-shirt imports grew by just 6% over the same period. In contrast, the number of woven shirts for women/girls (HS 6206) decreased slightly by 1 per cent.
In the third quarter, the average unit price of EU clothing imports showed different trends in the HS-4 category. Most unit prices have risen over the past five years in euros and dollars, reflecting broader market trends.
China's dominance in imports of knitwear has rebounded. In the third quarter of 2024, EU imports of knitwear from China showed a significant recovery, with sales up 13.5% compared to the same period in 2023. Over the same period, the EU's total knitwear imports increased by 7.8%, while China's market share increased from 31.8% to 33.5%.
In contrast, EU imports of knitwear from Bangladesh remained stagnant, reflecting the impact of political and social tensions in the country, hampering production and delivery capacity. Imports from Turkey also held steady as the country faced rising inflation and rising wages, leading to increased production costs that were not fully offset by the depreciation of the Turkish lira.
While Bangladesh faces stagnation, India, Pakistan and Cambodia have seized the opportunity to expand knitwear exports to the EU. These countries have benefited from a shift in procurement, with exports seeing strong growth as buyers are looking for alternatives due to production and delivery constraints in Bangladesh, particularly Cambodia and Pakistan. At the same time, Myanmar experienced a sharp decline, with knitwear exports falling 14.5 per cent, indicating a further loss of competitiveness in the region.
In the woven garment sector, China's recovery has been less pronounced, reflecting the challenges in achieving productivity gains in the woven garment sector. Still, China maintained its dominant market share of 37.8 percent. Bangladesh improved its position in the woven garment market, increasing its market share from 21.6% to 22%. Sales in Pakistan and Cambodia increased significantly by 24% and 27.6%, respectively, while India saw a modest increase of 2.3%. Myanmar's performance continued to be weak, with woven garment exports down 19 per cent.
Over the past five years, the total number of clothing imports in the EU27 highlights the changing purchasing dynamics. During this period, China's garment exports to the EU fell by 11 percent, while Bangladesh's garment exports increased by 12 percent. However, the recent challenges faced by Bangladesh have opened up opportunities for other countries to gain market share, reshaping the competitive landscape for EU clothing imports.
Follow us for more info. wedding & event linen suppliers wholesale Readortex, official website and B2B online store