UK's clothing imports down 4.5% to $1.56 bn in July 2024

Textile fabric imports in July 2024 increased by 1.69 per cent to £479 million, compared to £471 million in July 2023. There was also a month-on-month increase from June 2024’s £471 million. Meanwhile, the UK’s fibre imports in July 2024 reached £35 million, up from £34 million in July 2023 and £30 million in June 2024.

During the second quarter of 2024, the UK’s clothing imports totalled £3.485 billion (~$4.53 billion), which was 5.75 per cent lower than the £3.698 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2023. However, this was higher than the £3.278 billion in imports recorded in the first quarter of 2024. Fabric imports amounted to £1.382 billion, while textile fibres were noted at £107 million in April-June 2024. In the corresponding period of 2023, fabric and textile fibre imports were £1.439 billion and £108 million, respectively.

In 2023, the UK’s clothing imports totalled £15.702 billion (~$20.33 billion), down 25.94 per cent from £21.203 billion in 2022. Fabric and textile fibre imports were recorded at £5.547 billion and £413 million in 2023, down from £6.357 billion and £562 million in 2022, respectively. Imports of clothing, fabric, and textile fibres were £17.034 billion, £5.996 billion, and £458 million, respectively, in 2021.

Regarding exports, the UK’s clothing sector generated £259 million in July 2024, down from £293 million in July 2023. The figure for June 2024 was £297 million. Textile fabric exports in July 2024 eased to £222 million, compared to £221 million in July 2023, with a month-on-month decrease from June 2024’s £243 million. The UK’s fibre exports in July 2024 reached £68 million, up from £50 million in July 2023 and £59 million in May 2024.

During the second quarter of 2024, clothing exports totalled £837 million, compared to £897 million in Q2 2023 and £832 million in Q1 2024. Outbound shipments of textile fabric and fibres were recorded at £712 million and £172 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2024.

In 2023, clothing exports decreased to £3.772 billion ($4.88 billion) from £3.931 billion in 2022 and £4.263 billion in 2021. Exports of textile fabrics and fibres in 2023 were £2.737 billion and £667 million, respectively. In 2022, these exports were £2.716 billion and £616 million, respectively.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)