Market evolution: Men's knitted sleepwear (CN 6107) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report examines the evolution of EU trade in products classified under Customs Code 6107, covering men's and boys' knitted or crocheted underpants, briefs, nightshirts, pyjamas, bathrobes, dressing gowns, and similar articles (excluding vests and singlets). The analysis spans from 2015 to 2025 and is based on year-level trade data between the European Union and non-EU countries. Over this decade, the EU market for these products underwent a structural transformation characterized by surging import dependence, a dramatic decline in domestic production, shifting supplier geographies, and notable price shocks—particularly during the post-pandemic period of 2022.

I. A Decade of Deepening Import Dependence

EU imports grew far faster than exports, widening the trade deficit

Between 2015 and 2025, EU imports of CN 6107 products rose from €1.09 billion to €1.65 billion in value (+51.3%), while import volumes in tonnes surged from 75,528 t to 127,576 t (+68.9%). Over the same period, EU exports grew more modestly—from €183.6 million to €268.5 million (+46.3%)—with weight-based quantities increasing only 10.1%. The resulting trade balance deteriorated from −€908 million to −€1.38 billion, a widening of 52.3%.

Net import reliance nearly doubled, signaling structural vulnerability

The EU's net import reliance for CN 6107 climbed from 43.4% in 2015 to 86.8% in 2025—an increase of 100.1%. This indicator, which measures the share of domestic consumption satisfied by imports, underscores the near-total shift away from self-sufficiency in this product category. The trade intensity index also rose from 62.9% to 102.0%, meaning that trade in this category has become disproportionately large relative to overall EU trade patterns.

Domestic production collapsed, removing the import buffer

The erosion of EU manufacturing capacity is starkly visible in production data: output fell from 202.9 million items in 2015 to just 34.8 million items in 2025 (−82.9% by quantity, −65.0% by value). This dramatic contraction is the primary driver of the surge in import dependence. As domestic factories ceased or relocated production, EU brands increasingly turned to overseas suppliers, particularly in South and Southeast Asia.

II. Shifting Supplier Geographies: Bangladesh's Rise and China's Relative Stagnation

Bangladesh emerged as the EU's fastest-growing major supplier

Among the top import partners, Bangladesh posted the most dramatic growth, with import values rising from €178.3 million to €516.6 million (+189.7%). By 2025, Bangladesh had nearly closed the gap with China, the historically dominant supplier. Pakistan also expanded rapidly (+122.8%), while India (+29.5%) and Sri Lanka (+72.3%) posted solid gains. In contrast, Cambodia declined by 39.5%, and Türkiye's growth was more moderate (+42.6%).

Cotton underpants dominate the import product mix

At the sub-product level, cotton underpants and briefs (CN 610711) remain by far the largest category, accounting for 81,383 t of imports in 2025—roughly 64% of total import tonnage. Cotton nightshirts and pyjamas (610721) ranked second at 25,034 t. Man-made fibre underpants (610712) and nightshirts (610722) together represented another 14,710 t. The bathrobe and dressing gown categories (610791 and 610799) remained relatively niche but grew substantially over the decade.

EU imports increasingly come from lower-cost, higher-volatility origins

The coefficient of variation for import flows reveals that Pakistan (CV = 0.62) and Cambodia (CV = 0.35) exhibit the highest volatility among major suppliers, while China (CV = 0.15) and India (CV = 0.13) are more stable. The growing weight of higher-volatility suppliers introduces additional supply-chain risk for EU buyers.

EU export markets also shifted, with the UK declining and Switzerland/Norway rising

On the export side, the United Kingdom—the EU's largest non-EU export destination in 2015—saw a 28.7% decline in value (from €90.9M to €64.8M), likely reflecting post-Brexit trade friction. Meanwhile, exports to Switzerland (+120.8%), Norway (+167.2%), and Serbia (+217.0%) expanded significantly, partially compensating for the UK shortfall. The export concentration index (HHI) fell from 2,780 to 1,277 (−54.1%), confirming that EU exports have diversified substantially away from a UK-centric pattern.

III. The 2022 Supply Shock and Its Lasting Price Effects

The 2022 period saw sharp price spikes across multiple supplier relationships

The shock detection analysis identified three significant price anomalies centered on 2022:

These shocks coincide with the post-COVID logistics crisis, surging energy and raw material costs, and the geopolitical disruption following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. For imports from Bangladesh—which alone represented 31.6% of import value—the 24.3% price jump in 2022 translated into a substantial cost increase for EU buyers.

Import unit prices recovered unevenly after the 2022 peak

Examining import prices per tonne, the EU average fell from €14,456/t in 2015 to €12,950/t in 2025 (−10.4%), but the trajectory was non-monotonic: prices peaked in 2022 (driven by the shocks described above) before retreating. At the sub-product level, cotton underpants (610711) saw prices per tonne decline from €15,665 in 2015 to €13,173 in 2025, while cotton nightwear (610721) remained broadly stable. Notably, man-made fibre underpants (610712) maintained higher per-tonne prices, reflecting the premium associated with synthetic and technical fabrics.

EU export prices rose strongly, signaling a shift toward higher-value production

While import prices softened in tonnage terms, EU export prices per tonne rose from €29,741 to €39,507 (+32.8%). Per-piece export prices climbed even more dramatically—from €3.29/piece to €5.44/piece (+65.2%). This divergence suggests that the remaining EU-based production has moved upmarket, focusing on higher-quality, higher-margin products (e.g., premium cotton underwear, designer nightwear) rather than competing on volume with Asian suppliers. The EU's export propensity surged from 25.2% to 117.6% (+366.6%), meaning the EU now exports more than it produces domestically—a hallmark of a re-export and high-value niche manufacturing model.

Conclusion

Over the 2015–2025 period, the EU market for men's knitted sleepwear and underwear (CN 6107) has undergone a profound structural shift. Domestic production collapsed by over 80% in item terms, driving net import reliance from 43% to nearly 87%. The supply landscape was reshaped by Bangladesh's meteoric rise to near-parity with China, while the 2022 supply-chain crisis delivered sharp but transient price shocks across key trade corridors. On the export side, Brexit-related disruptions to UK-bound trade were offset by diversification toward Switzerland, Norway, and the Balkans. Meanwhile, the EU's remaining production has pivoted toward higher-value segments, with export unit prices rising 65% over the decade. The key vulnerability going forward is the EU's heavy and growing dependence on a small number of Asian suppliers—particularly Bangladesh and China—whose combined share of import value now exceeds 60%. Any disruption to these supply chains, whether from geopolitical tensions, climate events, or logistics bottlenecks, would have significant repercussions for EU consumers and retailers in this essential consumer-goods category.