Asia’s textile and clothing industry accelerates exports to Europe

The redirection of Asian production from the United States to Europe became clear in the first half of 2024, with a 19% increase in clothing imports and a 13% rise in textile imports from Asia, according to figures from the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM).

After peaking in 2022, European clothing imports had slowed year-over-year. However, driven by the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. customs dispute, imports surged by 13% in the first half of 2024, reaching $43.4 billion—of which $32.9 billion came from Asia.

China (+22%), Bangladesh (+18%), India (+15%), Cambodia (+30%), Vietnam (+17%), and Pakistan (+17%) all saw growth in exports to Europe. The only major supplier to post a decline was Turkey, down 7%, contributing to a 4% drop in orders from the broader Mediterranean region.

Imports from the United States, which had been increasing steadily since 2021, paused during the first six months of the customs dispute between Brussels and Washington. American clothing imports fell by 7% during that period.

The trend is similar in the textile sector, with European imports rising by 8% to €16.9 billion. Asian countries increased shipments by 13%, reaching €10.9 billion, led by strong growth from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

Despite the slowdown in clothing, the United States managed to increase its textile exports to the European Union to €724 million—up 4% compared to the same period in the previous year.

Exports continue to decline

In the first six months of the year, the EU exported €17.3 billion worth of clothing—a 3% drop from the same period in 2023, continuing the decline seen since its 2022 peak. This downturn was largely driven by Asian markets, where orders fell by 15% to €4.1 billion amid persistent trade tensions.

Exports to the United States—Europe’s third-largest customer—remained stable, while exports to China fell 18%. Additional declines were recorded in Hong Kong (-13%), South Korea (-17%), Singapore (-17%), and Taiwan (-10%).

Trade instability also affected exports to Canada (-10%) and Mexico (-12%). However, EU exports rose in nearby markets, including Ukraine (+20%), Serbia (+17%), and especially Turkey (+14%), which ranked as the EU’s fifth-largest customer. In total, exports to Mediterranean countries rose by 11%.

The trend was echoed in textile exports, which dropped by 4% to €13 billion. Although shipments to the U.S. held steady, exports to Asian countries declined by 14%. In contrast to clothing, textile orders from Mediterranean countries remained stable compared to the first half of 2024.