EU Clothing Imports in First Quarter 2005-2008 - Origins (Statistical Report) - Emerging Textiles

Volume, Value and Unit Value Change and Market Shares

EU Clothing Imports in First Quarter 2005-2008 - Origins Statistical Report

24 June 2008

EU clothing imports stagnated in the first quarter this year, confirming that buyers partly anticipated the current slowdown in retail sales in Europe. Chinese shipments did not rise, although European quotas were removed. Turkey and Morocco continued losing ground while India and Bangladesh got better results. Imports from Vietnam, Egypt and Macedonia further increased.

EU clothing imports stagnated in the first quarter this year in euro and volume terms.

Shipments from countries outside the European Union only rose 0.74% in kilo terms while down 1% in euro terms.

The slight decline in euro terms is actually hiding a rise in US$ terms after the European currency surged 14.50% against the US dollar from the same quarter in 2007.

Double-Digit Increase in US$ terms

Seen from exporting countries, as a result, shipments to the European Union often rose more than 10% in US$ terms.

The stagnation in volume terms is however indicating a rise in unit prices, in US$ terms, as the increase in the euro did not result in larger quantities shipped to the European Union.

There was no radical change in the origin of products imported by the EU in the first quarter this year.

Although quotas were eliminated, imports from China were far from surging, even in quantity terms.

Chinese shipments rose 3.8% in volume terms, declining 0.64% in euro terms.

Imports of Chinese clothing had surged 40% in the first quarter of 2007, by comparison.

Emerging Macedonia

Turkey suffered new losses in the first quarter with a fall of more than 8% of shipments in volume terms.

India and Bangladesh got better results, by contrast, especially with knitted clothing under HS chapter 61.

Imports were strong from Hong Kong and Vietnam, but from significantly lower levels. Vietnamese prices surged from their previously low levels, as already observed on the U.S. market.

Moroccan shipments struggled in volume terms with Tunisia less negatively affected by the stagnation in the European Market.

Pakistani exporters were confronted with a serious decline while Sri Lankan shipments rebounded, by contrast.

Egypt and Macedonia are increasingly becoming places where relocating the European (for Macedonia) or Turkish (for Egypt) clothing industries.

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