UK’s clothing imports slipped by 13.17 per cent to £4.137 billion in the first quarter (Q1) of the current year against imports of £4.765 billion in the corresponding period of 2022. The imports fell by 31.85 per cent quarter on quarter (QoQ) as the inbound shipment was recorded at £6.071 billion in Q4, 2022. The country’s clothing imports were recorded at £21.256 billion ($25.86 billion) in 2022, a 23.50 per cent increase compared to the imports of £17.034 billion in 2021.
Fabric imports fell by 17.62 per cent to £500 million in March 2023 against £607 million in March 2022. However, the imports improved in comparison to last month when the trade was recorded at £463 million in February 2023.
In March 2023, UK clothing imports decreased to £1.459 billion, down 18.07 per cent compared to the previous year.
However, imports showed a month-on-month increase from £1.294 billion in February 2023.
Clothing imports for Q1 2023 fell by 13.17 per cent to £4.137 billion compared to Q1 2022.
Fabric imports also declined, reaching £500 million in March 2023.
During Q1 this year, fabric imports slipped by 12.52 per cent to £1.432 billion against imports of £1.637 billion in January-March 2022. The imports also fell on a quarterly basis as the inbound shipment was recorded at £1.537 billion in Q4, 2022. Textile fabric imports reached £6.359 billion during 2022, as per ONS data.
In March 2023, the UK imported £36 million worth of textile fibres, compared to £45 million during the same month in 2022. They were noted at £39 million in February 2023. The total textile fibre imports for 2022 amounted to £545 million. The imports of textile fibres declined to £110 million in Q1 2023 against £135 million in Q1 2022 and £133 million in Q4 2022.
In March 2023, clothing exports from the UK amounted to £339 million, which was a decrease from the previous year’s £349 million. However, it showed improvement compared to the £298 million recorded in February 2023. Throughout the first quarter of the current year, clothing exports declined to £943 million, down from £955 million in Q1 2022 and £1,151 million in Q4 2022.
The exports decreased as well, reaching £3.931 billion in 2022 compared to £4.263 billion in 2021. Exports of textile fabrics and fibres were recorded at £2.716 billion and £616 million, respectively, in 2022.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
