Africa: T-Shirt Market 2025

T-Shirt Market Size in Africa

The African t-shirt market surged to $X in 2022, growing by 26% against the previous year. Overall, consumption, however, continues to indicate a perceptible shrinkage. Over the period under review, the market reached the peak level at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, consumption failed to regain momentum.

T-Shirt Production in Africa

In value terms, t-shirt production expanded to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of production peaked at $X in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

T-Shirt Exports

Exports in Africa

After two years of growth, overseas shipments of t-shirts decreased by -22.5% to X units in 2022. Overall, exports, however, posted prominent growth. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 162% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of X units, and then dropped sharply in the following year.

In value terms, t-shirt exports expanded significantly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, exports saw a mild setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when exports increased by 19%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

In 2022, Morocco (X units) and Mauritius (X units) were the largest exporters of t-shirts in Africa, together mixing up 45% of total exports. Tunisia (X units) took the next position in the ranking, followed by Egypt (X units). All these countries together took approx. 24% share of total exports. The following exporters - Madagascar (X units), Liberia (X units), Equatorial Guinea (X units), Somalia (X units), Guinea-Bissau (X units), Eritrea (X units), Chad (X units), Western Sahara (X units) and Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (X units) - each recorded a 25% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by Chad (with a CAGR of +324.2%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest t-shirt supplying countries in Africa were Morocco ($X), Egypt ($X) and Tunisia ($X), together comprising 60% of total exports. Mauritius, Madagascar, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Somalia, Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Western Sahara and Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 27%.

Among the main exporting countries, Chad, with a CAGR of +249.5%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in Africa amounted to $X per unit, increasing by 38% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price, however, saw a abrupt downturn. The level of export peaked at $X per unit in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Egypt ($X per unit), while Mauritius ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Egypt (-2.2%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

T-Shirt Imports

Imports in Africa

In 2022, overseas purchases of t-shirts decreased by -24.8% to X units for the first time since 2017, thus ending a four-year rising trend. In general, imports, however, showed a strong expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when imports increased by 92% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of X units, and then fell remarkably in the following year.

In value terms, t-shirt imports reduced to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2014 with an increase of 22% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of $X. From 2015 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

South Africa represented the main importer of t-shirts in Africa, with the volume of imports recording X units, which was near 24% of total imports in 2022. Tanzania (X units) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 7.2% share, followed by Libya (6.5%), Morocco (6.1%) and Algeria (5.1%). The following importers - Ghana (X units), Sudan (X units), Somalia (X units), Eritrea (X units), Guinea-Bissau (X units), Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (X units), Western Sahara (X units) and Chad (X units) - together made up 27% of total imports.

South Africa experienced a relatively flat trend pattern with regard to volume of imports of t-shirts. At the same time, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (+143.9%), Western Sahara (+131.4%), Chad (+91.1%), Guinea-Bissau (+68.1%), Somalia (+65.2%), Eritrea (+54.2%), Tanzania (+29.7%), Morocco (+16.6%), Libya (+13.6%), Sudan (+8.3%), Algeria (+7.1%) and Ghana (+4.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Africa, with a CAGR of +143.9% from 2012-2022. Tanzania (+6.2 p.p.), Morocco (+3.6 p.p.), Somalia (+3.4 p.p.), Eritrea (+3.3 p.p.), Guinea-Bissau (+3.1 p.p.), Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (+3 p.p.), Western Sahara (+3 p.p.), Libya (+2.9 p.p.) and Chad (+2.7 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while South Africa saw its share reduced by -24.7% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, South Africa ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported t-shirts in Africa, comprising 26% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Morocco ($X), with a 6.3% share of total imports. It was followed by Tanzania, with a 5.9% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value in South Africa totaled -4.7%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Morocco (+4.9% per year) and Tanzania (+13.8% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in Africa amounted to $X per unit, surging by 31% against the previous year. In general, the import price, however, recorded a abrupt setback. Over the period under review, import prices attained the peak figure at $X per unit in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Sudan ($X per unit), while Ghana ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Sudan (-2.0%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :