B Mirror Report : As major international suppliers, especially Bangladesh, battled negative growth, the European Union’s garment import industry began 2026 slowly and saw a severe decline in value.

According to the most recent data from Eurostat, EU apparel imports decreased by 15.48% in January 2026 compared to the same month the previous year, with a total import value of €7.03 billion. The decrease was caused by a 7.76% drop in average unit prices and an 8.36% drop in import volumes.

Bangladesh, a key apparel supplier to the EU, faced a particularly challenging month. Exports of Bangladeshi garments to the EU fell to €1.43 billion, marking a steep 25.25% decline in value. Both shipment volumes and prices contributed to the downturn: export quantities fell 17.49%, while unit prices dropped 9.41%, highlighting cooling demand and pricing pressures in the EU market for Bangladeshi RMG products.

Other major exporters also recorded declines. China remained the top EU supplier with €2.22 billion in exports but saw a 6.90% drop in value, with unit prices falling 8.01% despite a slight 1.21% increase in volume. Turkey faced a significant setback, with exports plunging 29.12% to €619.98 million. India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Cambodia similarly recorded negative growth, reflecting a broad slowdown in European fashion retail.

Mohiuddin Rubel, former BGMEA director, said the fall in unit prices, averaging €18.63/kg globally, points to a highly competitive EU market. For Bangladesh, unit prices dropped to €13.66/kg, well below the global average, signaling sustained pressure on local manufacturers’ profit margins.

Industry observers will be watching closely in the coming months to determine whether the January slump is a temporary seasonal adjustment or the beginning of a more persistent slowdown in the Eurozone.