Market evolution: Cotton trousers (CN 62034235) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyses the trade dynamics of the European Union for men's and boys' cotton trousers (excluding denim, knitted, and workwear) under customs code 62034235 over the period 2015–2025. The EU market for these goods is characterized by a pronounced structural dependency on imports, a significant shift in sourcing origins, and a sharp decline in domestic production. The period witnessed a contraction in import volumes, but this was accompanied by rising unit values and a dramatic increase in the EU's net import reliance, indicating a deepening integration into global supply chains alongside a retreat from local manufacturing.

1. The contraction of import volumes contrasted with rising import values

The EU's total imports of cotton trousers decreased over the decade in volume terms but exhibited price resilience, leading to a mixed performance in total import value. This suggests a shift towards higher-value or more expensive product sourcing.

Import volume and value trends: Total imports fell by -18.1% in quantity (from 119,926 tonnes in 2015 to 98,193 tonnes in 2025) and by -18.2% in value (from €2.13 billion to €1.74 billion). However, the decline in value was less severe than in volume, indicating an increase in the average price per tonne over the period. General Overview: EU trade in cotton trousers
Unit price evolution: The average import price per tonne remained relatively stable over the period, with a negligible change of -0.1%. In contrast, the price per piece (the supplementary unit) increased by 10.8% (from €7.78 to €8.62). This divergence suggests changes in the product mix or average garment weight, with the per-piece metric better capturing consumer-facing price trends. General Overview: EU trade in cotton trousers

2. A fundamental restructuring of the EU's supply base

The period saw a clear geopolitical and competitive reshaping of the EU's import sources, with Bangladesh consolidating its lead while Pakistan emerged as a major secondary supplier, largely at the expense of China and traditional neighbours.

The rise of Pakistan and decline of China: Pakistan's imports to the EU grew by 100.0% in value, making it the second-largest supplier by 2025 (€244 million). Conversely, imports from China fell by -59.1% (from €340 million to €139 million), dropping it from the third to the fourth-largest supplier. This mirrors the broader global shift in textile manufacturing. Top partners by value: Imports
Stable but pressured traditional suppliers: Bangladesh remained the dominant supplier throughout the decade, with its import value stable at around €713 million in 2025. However, imports from Türkiye and Tunisia declined by -35.6% and -36.8% respectively, suggesting a loss of competitiveness or shifts in production to other regions. Top partners by value: Imports
Increased supplier concentration: The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for import value rose by 27.3% (from 1,654 to 2,106), indicating a moderate increase in concentration. This reflects the growing dominance of Bangladesh and Pakistan as other sources diminished. Concentration HHI

3. Erosion of EU production and soaring external dependency

The most dramatic trend is the collapse in domestic EU production, which has led to a near-total reliance on imports, fundamentally altering the market's structure and vulnerability profile.

Collapse of EU production: EU production volumes plummeted by -78.3% (from 79 million pieces to 17.2 million pieces) and production value fell by -60.6% (from €914 million to €360 million) between the first and last year of the data. This indicates a massive withdrawal from manufacturing. Production volumes
Dramatic rise in import reliance: Consequently, the EU's net import reliance surged from 19.6% to 78.2% (a 298.6% increase). This means that by 2025, the vast majority of the EU market for this product category was supplied from abroad. Net import reliance
Specialisation within the EU: Production became highly concentrated in a few member states with a revealed comparative advantage. In 2025, Denmark (RSCA: 0.55), Romania (0.50), and Bulgaria (0.37) were the most specialised producers. This specialisation, however, occurs on a vastly reduced industrial base. Most specialised reporters

Conclusion

The EU's market for cotton trousers (CN 62034235) between 2015 and 2025 underwent a profound transformation. The decade was defined by the strategic retreat of domestic manufacturing, which was replaced by a deepening dependence on a consolidated group of Asian suppliers, notably Bangladesh and the fast-growing Pakistan. While total import volumes contracted, the market's structure became more vulnerable, with import reliance rising to nearly 80%. This shift underscores the success of cost-competitive economies in dominating the segment and presents the EU with a high degree of exposure to external supply-chain and price shocks. The future evolution of this trade will likely be influenced by geopolitical factors, sustainability regulations, and further cost dynamics in the key supplier nations.