Translated by
Nicola Mira
Published
Apr 5, 2023
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European textile industry under pressure in Q4 2022

Translated by
Nicola Mira
Published
Apr 5, 2023

The latest figures compiled by Euratex, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, show that European textile output contracted in Q4 2022, the first downturn recorded in almost two years. Conversely, after declining in Q3, European apparel production began to increase again at the end of last year.

Euratex


The trends were revealed by the Euratex index, which is based on pre-pandemic levels and more specifically on Q4 2019, which acts as reference point (with a value of 100).

After reaching a peak value of 116.6 in Q3 2022, the textile output index fell to 116.3 over the following three months. Since Q3 2020, the sector had experienced only one other inflection point in output, in Q1 2021.

Euratex said that the supply chain is “still struggling with tough market conditions and insufficient demand.” However, Euratex welcomed the apparel sector’s “strong rebound in activity.”

European apparel production finally returned to pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2022, when the production index reached 100.6, before jumping to 110.5 in the following quarter and then falling back down to 106.7 in the next three months, as energy costs became a major issue for the sector. The index's value eventually jumped up to 114.9 in Q4 2022.

Industry’s confidence wanes



“The European gas benchmark price has fallen below its pre- [Ukraine invasion] level. Despite the energy shock and ensuing record-high inflation, the EU economy managed a broad stagnation in the fourth quarter, instead of the expected contraction,” noted Euratex. 


Euratex


The European industry’s representative body welcomed the last three months’ falling inflation rates, suggesting that the peak may be behind us, but remained cautious: “2023 began with a new downside risk to the global economy: turbulence in the banking sector, which will increase economic uncertainty.”

An element that had an impact on the textile/apparel industry's confidence index. Over the January-March 2023 period, the index fell by 1.2 points among textile manufacturers, and by 1.3 points among apparel manufacturers. This pessimism has been linked to weaker order books and the risk of insufficient stocks of finished products.
 

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