Trends in EU textile and clothing imports, July-August 2008

58 pages, published in Issue 136, July-August 2008   Report price: Euro 690.00; US$ 910.00

This report examines trends in EU25 imports and import prices for 12 major product categories: cotton yarn; fabrics woven from synthetic staple fibres; fabrics woven from synthetic filament yarn; T-shirts; pullovers; trousers; women?s blouses; men?s shirts; women?s overcoats; women?s dresses; women?s skirts; and women?s suits.

Overall, EU27 textile and clothing imports rose in value by 4.5% in 2007, reaching Euro80.38 bn (US$110.04 bn). In volume terms, imports rose by a faster 6.4%, indicating a decline in the average import price. Textile imports alone were up by 4.1% while clothing imports increased by 4.7%.

The downward trend in prices returned in 2007 following a year in which prices rose for the first time in several years. Competition among suppliers has intensified in recent years as trade liberalisation has progressed and import prices have dropped. The price rise in 2006 was due largely to perceived supply shortages following the implementation of safeguard quotas against China in the previous year. But with safeguards not fully utilised, buyers returned to China in 2007 and other Asian suppliers had to lower their prices in order to compete for orders.

Despite the overall price drop in 2007, a number of suppliers increased their prices in order to retain or gain market share in value, and cover costs. In fact, apart from the USA, only Asian producers cut prices. Exporters from Turkey, Africa, the Near and Middle East, European countries outside the EU and several countries in the Americas all increased their prices.

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• Survey of the European Yarn Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2009/10, (July-August 2008)
• Trends in US textile and clothing imports, March-April 2008, (March-April 2008)
• Trends in world textile and clothing trade, November-December 2007, (November-December 2007)

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