We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. If you continue, we'll assume that you are happy to accept cookies from our website. You can change your browser's cookie settings at any time. To find out more about how we use cookies and how to manage your browser settings read our cookies policy.
Textile Outlook International
Issue 139:
June 2009

Product Overview
Buy this Report now
Buy this Issue now
Subscribe
Download brochure (PDF)
Download price list (PDF)

Price list download

Please choose your preferred currency:
Request sample issue
View list of reports
in other issues


Reports in this issue
Editorial: Brazil's Textile and Clothing Industry Rides out the Storm--but for How Long? (4 pages)
Prospects for the Textile and Garment Industry in China (40 pages)
Survey of the European Yarn Fairs for Spring/Summer 2010 (13 pages)
International Comparison of Production Costs: Spinning, Texturing, Weaving and Knitting (28 pages)
Textiles and Clothing: Opportunities for Recycling
World Trade in Socks (16 pages)

Multi Report Package
We also offer a flexible subscription product, the Multi Report Package, which allows you to select your own choice of reports from our full range, to suit your own budget.
Click here for full details.

World Trade in Socks

Buy 'World Trade in Socks' now 16 pages, published in Issue 139, June 2009  
Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00  


World trade in socks totalled US$5.6 bn in 2007, the latest year for which global data are available. Over half was accounted for by imports into the EU and North America alone. The EU import market was valued at Euro1.1 bn (US$1.6 bn) in 2008—excluding trade between EU member states. Of this total, more than three-quarters was supplied by just two countries: Turkey and China. The remainder came from a large number of supplying countries with relatively low shares. Turkey’s share of the EU market fell in value terms from 50% to 42% in the three years to 2008 whereas China’s share more than doubled to 35%. In quantity terms, however, China has emerged as the leader thanks to its price competitiveness. In cotton socks alone, the average price of imports from China in 2008 was the lowest among the leading ten suppliers except Pakistan. Overall, cotton socks dominated EU imports from all sources with a share of 79%.

US imports of socks were worth about US$1.4 bn in 2008, which was 14% less than the value of imports into the EU. Also, while the EU market is dominated by just two suppliers, there are several countries with significant shares of the US market. China was the top supplier in 2008 with nearly a third of the total. Other major suppliers included South Korea (with a 13% share), followed by Pakistan (11%), Honduras (11%) and Mexico (9%). The fastest growth, however, has been achieved by Honduras. In 2008 US imports from the country rose by 15%—five times the growth in US imports from all sources—after doubling in value in the previous year. As in the EU, cotton socks dominated US imports with a 61% share while synthetic socks accounted for 34%. In cotton socks, the top supplier to the USA was Pakistan, followed by Honduras, China and South Korea. In synthetic socks, however, China dominated with an import share of over half.

China’s success has stemmed partly from the creation of an enormous export industry characterised by huge economies of scale. Also, the government has encouraged the creation of large industrial clusters which specialise in specific products. As a result, the factory town of Datang in Zhejiang province has emerged as the socks capital of the world. Among western hemisphere suppliers, Honduras’s key advantages include low labour costs and duty-free access to the US market under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). These advantages have encouraged the Canadian company Gildan to set up large sock production facilities in Honduras.

Table of Contents
World Trade in Socks
  • Summary
  • Global Imports of Socks
  • EU Imports of Socks
  • The Two Dominant Exporters to the EU: Turkey and China

Buy this Report now Buy this Issue (139) now Subscribe
Related Reports  
Product Overview   

Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of intelligence, expert analysis and insight on the global textile and clothing industry.
What's in it?

Each issue provides an authoritative source of information on key industry topics, including: circularity; cotton; environmental sustainability; fibre prices; innovation; production and consumption forecasts; imports and exports; industry giants and emerging brands; international trade fairs; key geographical markets; recommerce; retail; supply chains; textile and clothing trade; textile machinery; trade and production trends; world markets; and yarn and fabric manufacturing.

A single issue of Textile Outlook International includes:

    an editorial think-piece on a topical issue from an industry expert

    a report on textile and apparel trade and production trends

    a round-up of the latest international trade fairs

    a feature on textile and clothing imports and exports or fibre prices, production and consumption

    a report on a key geographical market

    insight and analysis of a key market leader or fast-growing start-up

An annual subscription to Textile Outlook International is a cost-effective way to keep informed about trends and developments in the global textile and clothing industry.

Subscriptions are available in printed and/or digital formats. Printed and digital subscribers receive each issue in printed format in addition to a digital PDF file, which is available immediately on publication.

Like all Textiles Intelligence publications, Textile Outlook International is a reliable source of independently sourced business information, and it does not carry advertising.

This is what our customers say:
"We have improved our operations in Portugal out of all recognition. I think it is fair to say this would not be the case if not for Textile Outlook International."
(General Manager; Manufacturing company)