Reflecting a continued trend observed over several years, Belgium's apparel and clothing accessories imports declined to $1.9 billion in Q1 2025.
Maintaining its position, Germany emerged as the top apparel supplier to Belgium during this period. This highlights the strong intra-European trade relationships within the fashion sector.
Among non-European suppliers, only China and Bangladesh featured prominently, indicating their continued importance in the global apparel supply chain to Belgium.
While apparel imports dipped, other segments of Belgium's textile industry showed mixed results. Home textile imports saw a slight increase in Q1 2025, with China being the leading supplier in this category as well. However, fabric imports also experienced a decline during the first quarter.
The decline in Belgium's apparel imports reflects broader shifts in trade dynamics and potentially a more cautious consumer spending environment or a rebalancing of inventory within the Belgian market. While Germany remains a strong trading partner, the consistent presence of China and Bangladesh underscores their crucial role in providing apparel to European markets. This trend is part of a larger picture of evolving global supply chains and consumer preferences within the fashion industry.
