Textile-clothing, falling exports: Made in Italy threatened by low-cost competition
According to Confindustria Moda, Italian exports will fall by 1.6% in 2025. The historical markets are holding up, Asia is still struggling, with China close to -12%. President Sburlati: "Adequate policies are needed to support the supply chain"
A still complex international context, uneven demand and growing global competitive pressure have weighed on the foreign trade exports of Italy's Textile-Clothing sector: according to Confindustria Moda, in 2025 the sector's exports stood at EUR 36.9 billion, down 1.6%, against a 2.4% increase in imports, which rose to EUR 26.5 billion, signalling a progressive rebalancing of trade and greater penetration of foreign products in the market.
Supporting Italia's exports are once again the historic markets: France is confirmed as the leading trade partner with 4.7 billion euros (+0.7%), followed by Germany (3.6 billion, stable) and the United States (2.9 billion, +0.8%). These are mature markets that continue to guarantee a solid base for the international presence of Made in Italy, despite the slowdown in the economic cycle.
More critical, on the other hand, are the dynamics in the Asian markets, where there has been a significant contraction in exports: China fell by 11.9%, Hong Kong by 6.6% and South Korea by 16.3%. A trend that reflects the slowdown in global demand and, in particular, in luxury-related segments.
On the other hand, imports show growth, driven mainly by non-EU countries, which now account for more than two thirds of total volumes. China is confirmed as the leading supplier with EUR 4.6 billion (+8.0%), followed by a series of Asian countries in strong expansion: Bangladesh (+5.8%), India (+3.9%), but above all Vietnam (+24.0%) and Cambodia (+26.0%) register the most marked increases. This dynamic highlights a strengthening of the low-cost international production chains and a growing pressure on the competitiveness of the Italia supply chain, particularly in the stages most exposed to global competition.
The sector's trade balance remains positive, but contracting, confirming a transition phase that requires attention and targeted action.
