UK's clothing imports down 17.3% to £1.13 bn in Jan 2024

21 Mar '24

2 min read

Pic: Adobe Stock

Insights

In January 2024, the UK's clothing imports decreased by 17.38 per cent year-on-year to £1.136 billion, despite a month-on-month rise from December 2023.
Fabric and fibre imports also declined compared to the previous year.
The total 2023 clothing imports dropped by 25.94 per cent from 2022, with a decrease in fabric and fibre imports as well.

In January 2024, the United Kingdom's clothing imports amounted to £1.136 billion ($1.44 billion), representing a 17.38 per cent decrease from the previous year's £1.375 billion in the same month. However, there was a month-on-month increase from December 2023's figure, which was recorded at £0.947 billion, according to the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Imports of textile fabric in January 2024 fell by 9.36 per cent to £426 million, compared with £470 million in January 2023. There was a month-on-month increase from December 2023's £345 million. Meanwhile, the UK's fibre imports in January 2024 were £29 million, a decrease from January 2023's £35 million but an increase from December 2023's £24 million.

The UK's clothing imports totalled £3.714 billion during the fourth quarter of 2024 (October-December). Fabric imports were noted at £1.325 billion, and textile fibres at £90 million during this period. In 2023, the UK's clothing imports reached £15.702 billion, down 25.94 per cent from the inbound shipment of £21.203 billion in 2022. The imports of fabric and textile fibres were noted at £5.547 billion and £413 million in 2023, down from £6.357 billion and £562 million in 2022, respectively. The imports of clothing, fabric, and textile fibres were recorded at £17.034 billion, £5.996 billion, and £458 million, respectively, in 2021.

Regarding exports, the UK's clothing sector generated £291 million in January 2024, down from £314 million in January 2023. The figure for December 2023 was £300 million. During the fourth quarter of 2023, clothing exports totalled £982 million.

In 2023, clothing exports decreased to £3.772 billion from £3.931 billion in 2022 and £4.263 billion in 2021. Exports of textile fabrics and fibres in 2023 were £2.737 billion and £667 million, respectively. Exports of textile fabrics and fibres in 2022 were noted at £2.716 billion and £616 million, respectively.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)

More Textiles News - United Kingdom...