French Fashion Faces Stormy Seas as Exports Plummet and Asian Imports Surge

The first half of 2025 saw France's clothing and textile export sectors face significant headwinds, marked by a 5% decline in clothing exports and a 9% decrease in textile exports. Data released by the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) points to a period characterized by weak large-scale exports, coinciding with a notable surge in imports from Asian markets, collectively painting a challenging picture for French fashion and textile manufacturers.

Following a period of stabilization in 2024, French clothing exports totaled €6.6 billion in the first six months of the year. Exports to the European Union, which accounted for €3.6 billion of this sum, experienced a 2% contraction. Among France's top 20 export destinations within Europe, the steepest declines were observed in Italy (-6%), Spain (-10%), and the United Kingdom (-15%). Conversely, a few European markets demonstrated resilience and growth, with demand rising in Poland (+9%), Portugal (+9%), and notably Romania (+18%).

Beyond Europe, the downturn in clothing exports was also felt across other key markets. The United States saw a 9% reduction in orders, while exports to the United Arab Emirates declined by 15%. In Asia, the impact was particularly pronounced, with significant drops recorded in China (-15%), Hong Kong (-15%), Singapore (-20%), and Japan (-4%), indicating a broad weakening of demand from these vital regions.

The textile sector experienced an even steeper decline, with exports falling by 9% to €2.5 billion, of which €1.5 billion was destined for EU countries. A significant shift in the landscape of France's top textile customers occurred, as China plummeted from its first-place position to third, following a substantial 38% decline in orders, now trailing behind Belgium and Germany. While Romania and Austria registered notable gains, exports saw declines in markets such as Madagascar (-20%), India (-19%), Turkey (-18%), and the Czech Republic (-11%).

In contrast to the export woes, French clothing imports rebounded in the first half of 2025, reaching €11.3 billion, a 4% increase after slowing in 2024. This growth was predominantly fueled by a significant 12% increase in imports from Asia, totaling €6.8 billion. This surge from Asian suppliers is believed to be linked to a strategic redirection of production from the American market towards Europe. Among France’s top 20 suppliers, imports rose notably from China (+13%), Bangladesh (+11%), India (+9%), Vietnam (+16%), Cambodia (+21%), Pakistan (+20%), and Indonesia (+18%).

However, the robust growth in clothing imports from Asia was contrasted by notable declines from several European and North African suppliers. Imports from Turkey decreased by 6%, Tunisia by 8%, and Belgium by 11%. Germany experienced the most significant reduction, with imports falling by 22%, indicating a shift in sourcing strategies for French clothing retailers and brands.

Textile imports, during the same period, demonstrated a pattern of stabilization at €3.8 billion. This stability was achieved through a compensatory trend: a 5% drop in imports from the European Union was offset by a 7% increase in orders from Asia, which amounted to €1.3 billion. Key increases in material imports came from China (+12%), Pakistan (+4%), India (+6%), and Vietnam (+13%). Conversely, sourcing from traditional European partners saw declines, including Italy (-9%), Germany (-4%), Belgium (-7%), and Spain (-10%).