Apparel imports in Middle East reach $3.349 bn in H1 2024

Imports were valued at $3.480 billion in the second half (H2) of last year. Thus, imports in the first half of 2024 were 3.23 per cent higher than in H1 2023, but 3.76 per cent lower than in H2 2023. The total imports for 2023 amounted to $6.725 billion, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro.

Previously, imports to the Middle East fell to $4.321 billion in 2020 from $4.755 billion in 2019. However, trade rebounded to $5.229 billion in 2021, increased to $6.670 billion in 2022, and further rose to $6.725 billion in 2023.

TexPro data shows that the average price of imported apparel dropped significantly to $6.82 per unit in 2024, down from $8.75 per unit in 2023 and $8.21 per unit in 2022. The average price of smaller garments, measured in pairs, also fell to $0.75 per pair from $1.00 in 2023 and $1.10 in 2022. However, the average price of apparel imports by weight increased to $15.97 per kg in the first half of 2024, up from $14.92 per kg in 2023 and $15.81 per kg in 2022.

In the first half of 2024, Middle Eastern countries imported 237.748 million units of garments, 43.075 million pairs, and 33.710 million kg of garments. For the whole of 2023, they imported 344.343 million units, 70.386 million pairs, and 92.981 million kg of garments.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)