Textile and clothing exports from EU countries to countries outside the EU rose in value by 7.1% to Euro47.84 bn (US$53.94 bn) and rose in volume by 5.4% to 5.29 mn tons in 2017. Within these totals, exports of textiles rose by 4.8% in value and 5.2% in volume while exports of clothing rose by 9.2% in value and 7.9% in volume. Furthermore, textile production was up for the fourth consecutive year. However, clothing production declined for the 27th year in succession to its lowest level in several years. Within the EU, the largest exporter of textiles in 2017 was Germany, followed closely by Italy. The largest geographical market for EU textile exporters was the USA, followed by China and Turkey. In clothing, the largest exporter was Italy, followed at some distance by Spain, Germany and France. The largest geographical market for EU clothing exporters was Switzerland, followed by the USA, Russia and Hong Kong.Imports of textiles and clothing into the EU from countries outside the EU increased in value by 1.8% to Eurol 12.46 bn in 2017. In volume terms, imports rose by 2.8%to 12.35 mn tons. Within these totals, imports of textiles were up by 3.4% in value and 3.3% in volume while imports of clothing were up by 1.2% in value and 2.2% in volume. The average price of EU textile imports, meanwhile, edged up by 0.1% while the average price of EU clothing imports was down by a minimal 0.9%. Within the EU, the largest importer of textiles and clothing from outside the EU in 2017 was Germany, followed by the UK. The biggest source of EU textile imports in 2017 was China, followed by Turkey, India and Pakistan while the biggest source of EU clothing imports in 2017 was China, followed by Bangladesh and Turkey.The increase in imports in 2017 reflected a 3.7% rise in EU consumer expenditure on clothing and footwear in US dollar terms during the year. Furthermore, growth in such expenditure is forecast to accelerate to 7.5% in 2018—although this will be due largely to an appreciation of the euro against the US dollar. In euro terms, consumer expenditure on clothing and footwear in the EU is set to decline by 0.5% in 2018. Growth is forecast to resume in 2019 although it is expected to be fairly modest. In addition, growth in private consumption in the EU is set to slow in 2018 and rise only marginally in 2019 while consumer price inflation is expected to remain stable in 2018 and 2019 after picking up sharply in 2017. Consequently, it is unlikely that imports will be particularly buoyant in 2018.
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