Country: Europe

As per the EURATEX Report, China’s share in the European Union imports has decreased over the years. In 2010, its market share of EU textiles and clothing imports stood at 40.8 per cent, which plunged to 35 per cent in 2015.

Besides, Mediterranean countries, which have long enjoyed the advantage of their proximity to the EU-28, have experienced the same scenario as China. Its share has contracted from more than 20 per cent in 2009 to 18 per cent in 2015. This has benefited SAARC zone… From 19 per cent in 2010, its market share of textiles and clothing imports in 2015 was 24.6 per cent.

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The report also mentions that the ASEAN zone, which is smaller than the SAARC area, showed enough drive and economic dynamism to grow its share of textile and clothing imports from over 6 per cent in 2010 to 8.6 per cent in 2015. In full year 2015, these four zones accounted for 86 per cent of total extra-EU textile and clothing imports. Clothing products represented 80 per cent of total imports, a +10.5 per cent gain in value terms.

Products-wise, China triumphed as the top supplier of woven garments’ imports. However, its share continued to decline at 37.6 per cent. The Mediterranean countries also witnessed decline in this segment, ending up with a 16.5 per cent share. For imports of knitted garments, as the main supplier to this market with a 34 per cent share, China was faced with the intense vigour of its direct competitors in the SAARC, especially the ASEAN areas. The Mediterranean countries’ share stood at 17.5 per cent in knitted garments category.

Also Read – Vietnam’s cotton yarn export to China soars

In terms of exports, 57.5 per cent of extra-EU exports went to four main defined groups: the Mediterranean countries with 13.7 per cent, the group of autonomous countries with 11.8 per cent, the EFTA group of countries with 14.2 per cent and the NAFTA group with 17.8 per cent last year. These four groups accounted for 59 per cent of extra-EU textile and clothing exports in 2014. Woven fabrics were the major textiles exported by the EU. These represented 24.4 per cent of total textile and clothing exports. Regarding clothing, woven and knitted articles represented respectively 32 per cent and 17 per cent of total EU textile and clothing exports.

EURATEX – the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, has revealed the textile and apparel sector’s performance report for the year 2015.

In the period under review, womenswear imports climbed to Euro 29 billion, amounting 36 per cent of all clothing imports, marking a surge of 11.3 per cent. Menswear imports in 2015 zoomed to Euro 20 billion, a clear 25 per cent component of all clothing imports. The segment noted 10.7 per cent gain in value terms and a 4.5 per cent drop in volume. Consequently, the unit prices of manufactured garments rose in their entirety, by an average of 15.9 per cent. China persisted as the main supplier to the EU and noted a leap of 7.7 per cent in terms of value.

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Almost all imports of technical textiles from the various suppliers exhibited a double digit growth, with an increase of 14.3 per cent on average. For this sector too, China held onto its position as a leading supplier with a 13.8 per cent rise in trades.

In terms of export, womenswear segment observed an increase of 6.3 per cent, accounting for 40 per cent of clothing exports outside the EU. Exports for menswear mirrored the situation, with a 3.8 per cent hike in terms of value, it represented 23 per cent of the total exports in the clothing sector.

As per a report from CITH, the Textile and Clothing Information Centre, the EU textile and clothing exports in third countries increased 3.6 per cent in 2015. Textile sales to US recorded a surge of 16 per cent in the period under review. Moreover, among the EU top 10 customers, moderate expansion was recorded by Hong Kong and China (7 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively). On the contrary, exports to Russia dived (-) 27 per cent and Ukraine slipped (-) 1 per cent, as economy remains depressed in these markets.

Also Read – Cambodia registers surge in apparel exports

However, clothing exports to EU’s main markets noticed a higher growth rates than for textiles. Data shows a noticeable growth in the US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Canada and China (with rates between 19 per cent and 22 per cent), which made US the 2nd largest EU customer and China the 6th. Exports to the Saudi Arabian and Mexican markets also reported noteworthy growth (with respectively 17 per cent and 15 per cent). Russia and Ukraine on the other hand declined, following the political turmoil in these countries.

Besides, EU T&C imports increased by 9.6 per cent last year. Among the main textile suppliers, the US witnessed the highest growth with 16 per cent, followed by China, Pakistan and Vietnam (with 11 per cent).

Also Read – Bangladesh, Vietnam record double-digit growth in apparel exports to US

Clothing imports coming from most Asian countries recorded double-digit growth rates. The top supplier, China, recorded a 6 per cent increase, with 30 billion of clothing articles sold to the EU market. At second place, Bangladesh recorded a 24 per cent growth. Strong imports’ upturns were also observed from – Cambodia (31 per cent), Vietnam (26 per cent), Hong Kong (25 per cent) and US (26 per cent). With a 79 per cent increase, Myanmar is now ranking 17th in the top-20 EU’s clothing suppliers.

In order to keep the European textile and apparel manufacturers updated about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX) has launched a new webpage named, TTIP: far-reaching gains for EU textile & fashion companies. The page will feature the most updated and relevant issues in TTIP. It currently features articles that express the business opportunities and challenges for the European textile and apparel manufacturers, and also express the importance of apparel and textile trade between EU and US with supporting facts and figures.

Due to a drop in the value of euro by 18.9 per cent in the second half of 2014, the average price of EU textile and clothing imports increased by 14.2 per cent during the first quarter of 2015, according to the latest issue of Textile Outlook International from Textiles Intelligence. An increase of 17.8 per cent was observed in the average price of clothing imports alone, to which the importers reduced EU textile imports by 0.6 per cent and clothing imports by 3.7 per cent. The situation is likely to worsen as euro is expected to go down by 21.3 per cent against the U.S. dollar by the end of 2015. 

Fake apparels, footwear and accessories are taking away US $ 28 billion from the legitimate EU businesses, quotes the latest study by Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM). The report further states that the losses go beyond the financials, as 363,000 jobs are lost since the legitimate business owners make and sell less due to the manufacturing of fakes. The study, released through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, entrusted to OHIM, also assesses the indirect effect of the counterfeit trade. The report is expected to help policy makers and help consumers make better informed choices.