Global Apparel Trade: A Market of Diverging Directions
The EU imported USD 10.1 billion worth of apparel in September 2025, up 13% year-on-year. The UK posted a 19% jump. Japan, 14%. The US, by contrast, contracted 6%. Four major markets, four divergent signals — and the sourcing implications behind each are sharper than the headline numbers suggest.
On the supply side, the rebalancing is measurable:
- China’s apparel exports fell 16% year-on-year in October 2025, with CY25 YTD down 4% at USD 121.7 billion. Its share in the US import basket dropped from 22% in 2024 to 15% in Jan-Aug 2025.
- Vietnam absorbed much of that displacement: exports reached USD 3.9 billion in October 2025, up 3% YoY, with YTD growth of 11%. Its share in US imports climbed from 18% to 22% in the same period.
- India’s apparel exports stood at USD 1.1 billion in October 2025, down 13% YoY — though YTD remains a modest positive at 2%. India holds a 6% share across both the US and EU, steady from 2023 to 2025.
- Pakistan delivered 9% YoY growth to USD 0.82 billion, while Sri Lanka grew 3%.
Retail and inventory dynamics tell a parallel story. US apparel store sales reached USD 20.2 billion in August 2025, up 5% over August 2024, with Jan-Aug cumulative at USD 144.3 billion (+3%). Yet US online clothing sales dropped 3% in Q2 2025, continuing a multi-quarter deceleration from the 2021-2023 growth cycle. UK apparel stores grew 6% YTD through October 2025, while UK online clothing declined 3% in Q3 2025 — reinforcing a broader in-store recovery visible across Western markets.
Domestically, Indian apparel retail posted 9% YoY growth in August 2025, maintaining the acceleration seen since June 2025.
