EU apparel and textile imports show Pakistan’s fortunes turning
26/06/2014
Imports from China grew 2% to EUR 6.6 billion – at least double the next biggest importers Bangladesh (€2.8 billion), Turkey (€2.3 billion) and India (€1.4 billion).
Notable growth was seen in Bangladesh – which, despite the furore over human rights in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza disaster, supplied 15% more apparel to the EU in terms of value, than it did in Q1 2013.
Clothing imported from Cambodia increased 10% while the biggest change was from Pakistan, whose January 1st induction to the GSP+ trade preference system no doubt played a part in the near 30% growth to EUR $470 million.
In terms of clothing exports from the EU, Switzerland and Russia were the biggest benefactors taking €995 million and €860 million respectively, while the biggest leaps were to Hong Kong (€401, up 15%) and China (€259, up 17%).
In total, the EU exported €5.7 billion worth of clothing, according to French Customs.
In terms of the EU’s textile and fibre products, the Chinese powerhouse was again the biggest supplier in the first quarter (€2.1 billion) – doubling the value imported from Turkey (€1.2 billion). Hot on the heels of India (€640 million) was Pakistan supplying €500 million, mainly in the form of raw cotton – a 24% increase over last year.
The US took the largest slice of the EU’s textiles in terms of value of exports (€560 million, up 11%), followed by Turkey (€401 million, down 4%) and China (€399 million, up 9%).
Total textile exports from the EU amounted to €5 billion.
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