French textile and clothing exports decline in H1 2025 as Asian imports rise

In the first six months of 2025, France experienced a 5% decline in clothing exports and a 9% decrease in textile exports. According to data from the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM), these results were driven by weak large-scale exports, while imports from Asia surged.

After stabilizing in 2024, France exported €6.6 billion worth of clothing in the first half of the year, including €3.6 billion (-2%) to the European Union. Among the country’s top 20 export destinations, the sharpest declines in Europe were in Italy (-6%), Spain (-10%), and the UK (-15%). In contrast, demand rose in Poland (+9%), Portugal (+9%), and Romania (+18%).

Outside of Europe, export declines also affected the United States (-9%) and the United Arab Emirates (-15%). In Asia, significant drops were recorded in China (-15%), Hong Kong (-15%), Singapore (-20%), and Japan (-4%).

Textile exports declined by 9% to €2.5 billion, with €1.5 billion of this amount going to EU countries. Notably, China dropped from first to third place among France’s top textile customers, following a 38% decline in orders — now placing it behind Belgium and Germany.

While there were notable gains in exports to Romania and Austria, orders declined in Madagascar (-20%), India (-19%), Turkey (-18%), and the Czech Republic (-11%).

Slight rebound in imports

After slowing in 2024 following three years of growth, French clothing imports rebounded in the first half of 2025, reaching €11.3 billion (+4%). This growth was fueled by €6.8 billion in imports from Asia, where a 12% increase is likely linked to the redirection of production from the American market to Europe.

Among France’s top 20 suppliers, imports rose from China (+13%), Bangladesh (+11%), India (+9%), Vietnam (+16%), Cambodia (+21%), Pakistan (+20%), and Indonesia (+18%). However, there were notable declines in imports from Turkey (-6%), Tunisia (-8%), Belgium (-11%), and especially Germany (-22%).

Textile imports stabilized at €3.8 billion in the same period. The 5% drop in imports from the EU was offset by a 7% increase in orders from Asia, which totaled €1.3 billion.

Notable increases in material imports came from China (+12%), Pakistan (+4%), India (+6%), and Vietnam (+13%). Meanwhile, sourcing from Italy (-9%), Germany (-4%), Belgium (-7%), and Spain (-10%) declined.