Paris, 27/5/14

European denim imports in 2013 by Jean-Franois Limantour

Healthy recovery for European denim imports in 2013!

In 2013, the 27 member states of the European Union imported 494 million pairs of
denim jeans, representing a value of 3.69 thousand million euros, destined for a
population of 505 million people, of whom 430 million consumers are over the age
of 14. Jeans are more than ever before an essential item of clothing for any
European consumer, whatever their age or sex.

During the last six years, between 2007 and 2013, imports of jeans have
experienced an exceptional rate of growth of 5.3% per annum, reaching a peak in
2013. By way of comparison, total European imports of clothing only grew by 2.2%
a year during this same period.
In decline in 2012 due to the crisis in the economy, European imports of jeans are
back on track for growth. Indeed, in 2013 they grew by 4.4% in value and by 8.6%
in volume, while average prices dropped by 3.9%.


Source: Eurostat





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In 2013, three countries clearly stood out from the mass of jeans suppliers to the
European Union: Turkey, Bangladesh and China. Together they supply two thirds
(62%) of jeans imports in terms of value and 69% in terms of pairs of jeans.
These three suppliers are followed by Pakistan and Tunisia, then trailed by
Morocco and Cambodia fairly far behind.

One of the significant differences in 2013 is that China ceded its place as prime
supplier to the European Union, which it still occupied in 2012; it was overtaken not
just by Turkey but also by Bangladesh. China, however, remains top-ranked in
terms of numbers of pairs, with 142 million pairs of jeans exported to the European
Union in 2013

Many other countries, Asian ones in particular, export jeans to the European Union.
Some, like India, are on the wane while other suppliers like Cambodia or Vietnam
are advancing rapidly


EUROPEAN IMPORTS OF JEANS IN 2012 AND 2013
2012 2013
Ranking Supplier Value Quantity Price Ranking Supplier Value Quantity Price
1000
euros
1000
articles
euros 1000
euros
1000
articles
euros
1 China 824 247 148 576 5.55 1 Turkey 795 418 56 900 13.98
2 Turkey 746 482 55 611 13.42 2 Bangladesh 775 523 141 127 5.50
3 Bangladesh 678 588 117 067 5.80 3 China 708 187 142 428 4.97
4 Pakistan 351 052 52 827 6.65 4 Pakistan 420 968 65 065 6.47
5 Tunisia 287 292 16 930 16.97 5 Tunisia 336 858 20 054 16.80
6 Morocco 154 207 13 225 11.66 6 Morocco 144 594 12 197 11.85
7 Egypt 77 687 7 190 10.80 7 Cambodia 100 486 17 178 5.85
8 Cambodia 71 476 11 609 6.16 8 Egypt 72 594 6 408 11.33
9 India 63 343 5 282 11.99 9 India 55 407 5 400 10.26
10 Vietnam 42 461 3 994 10.63 10 Vietnam 51 196 4 872 10.51
11 USA 40 292 1 157 34.82 11 Mauritius 37 616 3 204 11.74
12 Mauritius 27 716 2 411 11.50 12 USA 29 513 810 36.44
13 Sri Lanka 27 295 3 274 8.34 13 Sri Lanka 22 545 2 779 8.11
14 Thailand 21 868 2 602 8.40 14 Indonesia 19 693 2 472 7.97
15 Hong Kong 17 284 1 877 9.21 15 Thailand 17 818 2 065 8.63
16 Indonesia 14 804 1 880 7.87 16 Albania 14 834 1 902 7.80
17 Albania 13 840 1 832 7.55 17 Hong Kong 11 021 1 269 8.68
18 Mexico 9 598 678 14.16 18 Laos 9 658 1 565 6.17
19 Laos 8 565 1 250 6.85 19 Turkmenistan 7 500 1 185 6.33
20 Turkmenistan 7 265 1 097 6.62 20 Mexico 7 169 481 14.90

Totals 3 538 470 454 637 7.78

Totals 3 692 929 493 673 7.48
Source: Eurostat

Generally speaking, the Mediterranean countries have seen their share of total
European imports of jeans declining for some years.
Turkey has fallen from 25.9% in 2007 to 21.1% in 2012; Tunisia from 11.4% to
8.1% and Morocco from 5.4% to 4.4% during the same period.

This drop suffered by the Mediterranean countries has been to the benefit of Asia.
However, within the latter region, differences in this pattern of change can be
observed among the suppliers which are in decline, starting with China which
dropped from 31.7% to 23.3% between 2010 and 2012, while Pakistan, Vietnam,
Cambodia or Sri Lanka have made significant advances over the last few years.



Changes in the performance of the main suppliers of denim jeans to the EU


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Ranking Change in 2013/2012 as %
2012 2013 Values Quantity Price
Turkey 2 1 6.6% 2.3% 4.2%
Bangladesh 3 2 14.3% 20.6% -5.3%
China 1 3 -14.1% -4.1% -10.4%
Pakistan 4 4 19.9% 23.2% -2.7%
Tunisia 5 5 17.3% 18.5% -1.0%
Morocco 6 6 -6.2% -7.8% 1.7%
Cambodia 8 7 40.6% 48.0% -5.0%
Egypt 7 8 -6.6% -10.9% 4.9%
India 9 9 -12.5% 2.2% -14.4%
Vietnam 10 10 20.6% 22.0% -0.1%
All suppliers 4.4% 8.6% -3.9%
Source: Eurostat

In 2013, the average price of imported jeans in the European Union stood at 7.48
euros compared with 7.78 euros in 2012, meaning an average decrease of 3.9%.
Let us not forget that in 2011 and 2012, the average price of jeans had increased
from 6.6% and then 5.4% respectively, meaning an accumulated increase of
12.4%, as a result of the rise in the price of cotton.

The relative calm in cotton prices for many months and the continuing economic
crisis contributed to the drop in the price of jeans in 2013.
The price level of imported jeans is a good indicator of the suppliers' strategies. On
the one hand, there are those who are working on strategies to create greater
value for their jeans ranges. This primarily concerns Tunisia and Turkey. Tunisia
and Turkish jeans incorporates do indeed have a higher added value (quality of
materials, finishing, processing, embellishments), which is manifested in the
average unit price of 16.8 euros and 13.98 euros respectively.
At the other end of the scale are exporters of low to mid-range jeans, with prices
lower than 10 euros per article, which is the particular case with China (4.97
euros), Bangladesh (5.50 euros), Pakistan (6.47 euros) and Cambodia (5.85
euros).

Source: Eurostat

Moreover, it is interesting to observe that the average price levels for imported
jeans in Europe vary considerably from one member state to another.
For instance, it is Italy that buys the most expensive jeans (15 euros per pair in
2013), followed by Austria (10.49 euros), Denmark (9.31 euros), Germany (8.77
euros) and Sweden (8.17 euros).

In contrast, the price of imported jeans in Spain (6.6 euros per pair), Great Britain
(6.70 euros), France (7.26 euros) or Portugal suggests that jeans imported by
these countries are noticeably more downmarket.




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Attractiveness of European jeans markets


Germany is the most attractive of the European import markets for jeans. As it is, it
is the largest importer in terms of value and volume (114 million pairs of jeans
imported in 2013) but also one of the markets with the strongest growth rates
(+7.2% a year since 2005).

The second largest market is Great Britain (499 million euros and 74.4 million pairs
of jeans in 2013, with an average annual growth rate of 2.5% for the past eight
years). It is followed by Spain which, after a very high average annual growth rate
since 2005 (+12.5%), has reached a size comparable with that of Great Britain in
terms of value and volume.. Despite or because of the difficult economic situation,
Spain remains a very attractive market for jeans.

France and Italy each have an import market for jeans that represents around one
third of the value of Germanys market. Growth in these two countries since 2005 is
relatively weak (average annual rate of 1.9% for France and of 1.8% for Italy).
Among the other European markets that are smaller but still posting healthy
growth, we should note Portugal, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic
and Sweden. In contrast, the Belgian market is in conspicuous decline: -3.4% a
year on average since 2005!


Press contact:
Mickal COTTE
Tel: +33 (0) 155 266 129
Mobile +33 (0) 677 634 755
mickael.cotte@france.messefrankfurt.com

The Texworld and Apparelsourcing Paris shows will be held at the Paris Le
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th
to Thursday 18
th
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Page 5




Background information on Messe Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's leading trade show organisers with around
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Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries and approx. 50 international Sales
Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events
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In 2013, Messe Frankfurt organised 114* trade fairs, of which more than half took
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Messe Frankfurts exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are
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For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
* preliminary numbers (2013)