A report on trends in textile and clothing imports by the 15 EU member countries found that in 2005, textile and clothing imports declined by 0.7% to €66.3 billion. In terms of volume imports amounted to 7.2 million tons, which, at 3.4% lower than in 2004, was a fall for the first time in ten years.

The report, compiled by market research and data company Research and Markets, said that competition among suppliers has intensified in recent years as trade liberalisation has progressed and import prices have dropped. Between 2000 and 2005 the average price of textile imports fell by 21%, whilst the price of clothing imports declined by 24%. In 2005, however, the price fell by only 1.2% in textiles and 0.1% in clothing. Nonetheless, EU producers have found it difficult to match lower import prices in the domestic market, and at the same time, have found exports hampered by the continuing high value of the euro against the US dollar.