EU: Women Knitwear Market 2025

Women Knitwear Market Size in the EU

The EU women knitwear market rose notably to $X in 2022, with an increase of 8.6% against the previous year. Overall, consumption showed a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, the market reached the maximum level in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

Women Knitwear Production in the EU

In value terms, women knitwear production expanded to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. The total production indicated a pronounced increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, production decreased by -4.6% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when the production volume increased by 27%. Over the period under review, production hit record highs at $X in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

Women Knitwear Exports

Exports in the EU

After six years of growth, overseas shipments of women's or girls' clothing (knitted or crocheted) decreased by -1.9% to X units in 2022. In general, exports, however, recorded a buoyant increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when exports increased by 25%. The volume of export peaked at X units in 2021, and then declined slightly in the following year.

In value terms, women knitwear exports contracted to $X in 2022. Total exports indicated a strong increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +7.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +89.7% against 2015 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 27%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $X, and then shrank modestly in the following year.

Exports by Country

In 2022, Germany (X units), distantly followed by Spain (X units), Poland (X units), the Netherlands (X units), France (X units), Italy (X units) and Austria (X units) were the key exporters of women's or girls' clothing (knitted or crocheted), together committing 79% of total exports. Slovakia (X units), Denmark (X units), Greece (X units), the Czech Republic (X units), Portugal (X units) and Belgium (X units) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by Austria (with a CAGR of +32.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($X) remains the largest women knitwear supplier in the European Union, comprising 27% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Italy ($X), with a 12% share of total exports. It was followed by Spain, with a 12% share.

In Germany, women knitwear exports expanded at an average annual rate of +9.3% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Italy (+4.3% per year) and Spain (+8.3% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the European Union stood at $X per unit in 2022, almost unchanged from the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price showed a noticeable decline. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when the export price increased by 2.6%. Over the period under review, the export prices hit record highs at $X per unit in 2012; however, from 2013 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 Italy ($X per unit), while Slovakia ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Belgium (+6.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Women Knitwear Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2022, the amount of women's or girls' clothing (knitted or crocheted) imported in the European Union expanded significantly to X units, picking up by 7.9% on 2021. Overall, imports continue to indicate resilient growth. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 22%. The volume of import peaked in 2022 and is likely to continue growth in the near future.

In value terms, women knitwear imports amounted to $X in 2022. Total imports indicated a buoyant expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +7.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +61.7% against 2014 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 when imports increased by 24% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports reached the peak figure in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the near future.

Imports by Country

Germany represented the main importer of women's or girls' clothing (knitted or crocheted) in the European Union, with the volume of imports amounting to X units, which was approx. 28% of total imports in 2022. It was distantly followed by Spain (X units), France (X units), Poland (X units), the Netherlands (X units) and Italy (X units), together generating a 47% share of total imports. Austria (X units), Sweden (X units), the Czech Republic (X units), Denmark (X units), Belgium (X units), Greece (X units) and Romania (X units) took a little share of total imports.

Germany was also the fastest-growing in terms of the women's or girls' clothing (knitted or crocheted) imports, with a CAGR of +38.1% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Poland (+17.6%), Romania (+12.4%), the Czech Republic (+11.9%), Spain (+10.9%), Austria (+10.4%), Italy (+7.5%), Denmark (+7.2%), the Netherlands (+7.1%), France (+6.8%), Sweden (+6.5%) and Greece (+5.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, Belgium (-1.9%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Germany (+24 p.p.) and Poland (+3.4 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and France saw its share reduced by -1.8%, -3.3%, -3.9%, -5.8% and -7.6% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Germany ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported women's or girls' clothing (knitted or crocheted) in the European Union, comprising 28% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by France ($X), with a 12% share of total imports. It was followed by Spain, with an 11% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value in Germany amounted to +8.1%. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: France (+5.5% per year) and Spain (+8.5% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in the European Union amounted to $X per unit, therefore, remained relatively stable against the previous year. In general, the import price, however, continues to indicate a perceptible contraction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 when the import price increased by 2%. The level of import peaked at $X per unit in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Austria ($X per unit), while Greece ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania (+4.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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