UK's textile imports decline in February; clothing down 20.79% YoY

Imports of textile fabric in February 2024 fell by 10.45 per cent to £411 million, compared with £459 million in February 2023. There was a month-on-month increase from January 2024's £423 million. Meanwhile, the UK's fibre imports in February 2024 were £28 million, a decrease from February 2023's £41 million and a decrease from January 2024's £29 million.

The UK's clothing imports totalled £3.714 billion during the fourth quarter of 2024 (October-December). Fabric imports were noted at £1.325 billion, and textile fibres at £90 million during this period. In 2023, the UK's clothing imports reached £15.702 billion, down 25.94 per cent from the inbound shipment of £21.203 billion in 2022. The imports of fabric and textile fibres were noted at £5.547 billion and £413 million in 2023, down from £6.357 billion and £562 million in 2022, respectively. The imports of clothing, fabric, and textile fibres were recorded at £17.034 billion, £5.996 billion, and £458 million, respectively, in 2021.

As for the exports, the UK's clothing sector generated £266 million in February 2024, down from £302 million in February 2023. The figure for January 2024 was £291 million. The exports of textile fabric in February 2024 rose to £238 million, compared with £225 million in February 2023. There was a month-on-month increase from January 2024's £221 million. The UK's fibre exports in February 2024 were £58 million, an increase from February 2023's £57 million and up from January 2024's £50 million.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, clothing exports totalled £982 million. The outbound shipments of textile fabric and fibre were noted at £688 million and £150 million in the same quarter.

In 2023, clothing exports decreased to £3.772 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. Exports of textile fabrics and fibres in 2022 were noted at £2.716 billion and £616 million, respectively.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)