"Asia’s textile and clothing industry accelerates exports to Europe", 8 September 2025

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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..

Imports from the United States...paused during the first six months of the customs dispute between Brussels and Washington. American clothing imports fell by 7% during that period.

Asian countries increased shipments by 13%, reaching €10.9 billion,...

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...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...remained stable, while exports to China fell 18%...

Trade instability also affected exports to Canada (-10%) and Mexico (-12%). However, EU exports rose in nearby markets...

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.