Textile and clothing (T&C) exports from the European Union to the USA escalated during January to May 2018 period. The 28-nation bloc exported T&C products worth US $ 1830.17 million in the US market, marking a growth of 16.83 per cent on Y-o-Y basis.
Readymade Garments (RMG) exports was valued at US $ 917.83 million (up 18.78%), while other textile products helped EU earn US $ 912.34 million (up 14.93%) of money in the said period.
Italy was the top exporter from the Union which fetched US $ 511.40 million in its RMG exports to the USA noting a whopping 21.08 per cent surge on the yearly note. Italy shipped garments having unit prices of approximately US $ 26.30 per square metre equivalent (SME) of garments in the US market. The unit prices are almost 9 to 10 times higher than that of what the Asian manufacturing hubs such as India, China, Bangladesh and Vietnam are offering which shows the clear dominance of Italy when it comes to high-end clothing.
Portugal too tapped US $ 115.38 million in its RMG exports to the USA and grew an impressive 27 per cent from what it had exported last year. The next in line was France which exported apparels worth US $ 65.70 million to the USA with a surge of 15.72 per cent on Y-o-Y basis.
Romania, usually considered as laggard in T&C manufacturing, proved its potential with US $ 64.76 million worth of apparel exports to the USA. The country grew by 19.68 per cent from the prior year’s same period.
However, the ongoing trade war between US and EU could possibly hit the textile and clothing industry. The Union has already levied tariffs on jeans and t-shirts which US exports to the bloc and, any time in near future, US may also retaliate with some duties on the clothing that comes from the Union.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
