According to Eurostat data, EU apparel imports from the world fell -10.42% year-on-year in January–April 2026, totaling €27.77 billion, down from €31 billion in the same period of 2025. This decline reflects a -5.48% drop in import volume (1,428.88 million kg, down from 1,511.77 million kg) combined with a -5.22% fall in average unit prices (€19.44/kg, down from €20.51/kg) — indicating that both weaker demand and softer pricing contributed roughly equally to the overall contraction.
Bangladesh recorded the steepest decline among major suppliers, with exports falling -19.33% to €6.09 billion, down from €7.54 billion. Unusually, the value decline was driven more by falling unit prices (-10.45%, to €13.96/kg) than by volume (-9.91%, to 435.97 million kg) — meaning Bangladesh lost ground on price even as shipment volumes held up relatively better than the value figures alone suggest. The April 2026 single-month comparison was even sharper: value down -19.53%, volume down -14.63%, and unit price down -5.74% versus April 2025.
The performance of competing suppliers was mixed, not uniformly negative:
- China posted the smallest decline in value (-4.70%, to €7.95 billion) and was the only major supplier to grow volume (+3.25%, to 408.91 million kg). Its unit price fell sharply (-7.70%, to €19.44/kg), suggesting China is competing aggressively on price to defend market share even as overall EU demand softens.
- Turkey saw exports fall -16.60% to €2.42 billion, with volume down -17.83% — its unit price actually rose slightly (+1.49%), pointing to a volume-led contraction rather than price competition.
- India declined -12.10% to €1.64 billion, with both volume (-7.70%) and price (-4.76%) falling.
- Vietnam was comparatively resilient, down just -0.70% to €1.37 billion. Volume fell -7.11%, but unit price rose +6.90% — Vietnam appears to be holding value through premium positioning even as shipment volumes contract.
- Cambodia fell -12.18% to €1.28 billion despite a +4.70% rise in unit price, with the decline driven entirely by a -16.12% drop in volume.
- Pakistan had the most unusual pattern: value fell -17.94% to €1.09 billion despite volume actually rising +5.86% — entirely the result of a steep -22.49% collapse in unit price, the sharpest price decline of any country in the table.
Key takeaway: Bangladesh’s -19.33% decline was driven by a near-even mix of volume and price erosion, contrasting with China’s volume resilience (achieved through price-cutting) and Vietnam’s price resilience (achieved through volume sacrifice). Bangladesh, unlike either, lost ground on both fronts simultaneously — a pattern that warrants attention given that no other major competitor shows this dual weakness at comparable scale.
By-Mohiuddin Rubel
Former Director, BGMEA
Additional Managing Director, Denim Expert Ltd.
