Market evolution: Men's synthetic outerwear (CN 620140) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report analyses the EU trade dynamics for customs code 620140 — men's or boys' overcoats, anoraks, wind-jackets and similar articles made of man-made fibres (excluding knitted/crocheted items, suits, and trousers) — over the period 2015–2025. Based on the available data, the EU market for this product category has undergone significant structural shifts, characterised by declining import volumes, rising export unit values, and a notable diversification away from Chinese sourcing. The EU remains a substantial net importer, yet its import reliance has decreased markedly, while its export specialisation has intensified in select Member States. The following sections unpack these dynamics, drawing on trade values, volumes, partner composition, and production data from the EU Trade Dashboard.
1. Import contraction and the closing trade deficit
1.1 EU imports have declined significantly in value despite relatively stable volumes
Between the first and last available years, EU imports of CN 620140 fell from €3.22 billion to €2.53 billion, a contraction of 21.4% in value. Over the same span, imported mass quantities decreased more modestly — from 122,117 tonnes to 114,081 tonnes (−6.6%). This divergence points to a substantial decline in the average unit price of imports: the import price per tonne fell from €26,369 to €22,181 (−15.9%), suggesting either increased sourcing from lower-cost origins or a shift toward lighter, less expensive garments within the category.
| Metric | First year | Last year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import value (EUR) | 3,220,287,974 | 2,530,755,061 | −21.4% |
| Import quantity (tonnes) | 122,117 | 114,081 | −6.6% |
| Import price (EUR/tonne) | 26,369 | 22,181 | −15.9% |
Source: General Overview – Trade
1.2 The trade deficit narrowed by over a third
The EU's trade deficit in this product category improved from −€2.13 billion to −€1.31 billion, representing a 38.2% improvement. This reflects the combined effect of rising export values and falling import values. While the EU remains structurally dependent on external supply — with net import reliance declining from 84.3% to 66.6% — the magnitude of this improvement is noteworthy and suggests a combination of reshoring, higher domestic specialisation, and evolving demand patterns.
| Metric | First year | Last year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade balance (EUR) | −2,127,008,516 | −1,313,836,557 | +38.2% |
| Net import reliance (%) | 84.3% | 66.6% | −21.0% |
1.3 Export values rose even as volumes declined, signalling a move upmarket
EU exports of CN 620140 increased in value from €1.09 billion to €1.22 billion (+11.3%), even as exported tonnage fell from 11,199 tonnes to 9,040 tonnes (−19.3%). The export price per tonne surged by 37.9%, from €97,615 to €134,589 — nearly double the import price. This stark price asymmetry indicates that EU exports in this category are concentrated in higher-value segments, likely reflecting premium positioning, branded products, or more technical outerwear.
| Metric | First year | Last year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export value (EUR) | 1,093,279,458 | 1,216,918,503 | +11.3% |
| Export quantity (tonnes) | 11,199 | 9,040 | −19.3% |
| Export price (EUR/tonne) | 97,615 | 134,589 | +37.9% |
Source: General Overview – Trade
2. Geographical rebalancing: from China-centric to diversified sourcing
2.1 China remains the dominant supplier but has lost significant share
China was the EU's largest import source, with flows valued at €1.70 billion in the first year, falling to €1.13 billion in the last — a decline of 33.7%. Despite this contraction, China still accounts for roughly 44% of total EU imports in this category (based on last-year figures). The import concentration HHI fell from 3,159 to 2,460 (−22.1%), confirming a meaningful diversification of the EU's supply base away from over-reliance on a single origin.
| Partner | First year (EUR) | Last year (EUR) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,696,383,665 | 1,125,351,685 | −33.7% |
| Bangladesh | 366,796,498 | 336,019,392 | −8.4% |
| Myanmar | 311,762,198 | 216,996,636 | −30.4% |
| Viet Nam | 381,127,443 | 340,185,756 | −10.7% |
| Cambodia | 89,751,354 | 123,621,830 | +37.7% |
| Pakistan | 26,822,903 | 31,590,098 | +17.8% |
| United Kingdom | 16,733,432 | 24,613,591 | +47.1% |
Source: Top partners by value
2.2 South and Southeast Asian suppliers have partially offset China's decline
While the traditional Asian suppliers — Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Viet Nam — also saw value declines (ranging from −8% to −31%), several smaller origins gained ground. Cambodia stands out with a 37.7% increase in import value, reaching €123.6 million. Pakistan also grew (+17.8%), while the United Kingdom — now outside the EU — posted the fastest growth among top partners at +47.1%, possibly reflecting post-Brexit reclassification effects or cross-border supply chain adjustments.
2.3 EU export destinations show contrasting dynamics
On the export side, the top EU export partners reveal a different picture. Switzerland and the United Kingdom remain the largest export markets (€163.6M and €135.4M respectively), though both saw modest declines. Ukraine posted the strongest growth among export destinations at +61.8%, rising to €25.4 million, likely reflecting growing demand linked to EU–Ukraine trade integration. Conversely, exports to Russia fell by 31.8%, consistent with the impact of EU sanctions following 2022.
| Export partner | First year (EUR) | Last year (EUR) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | 76,112,903 | 72,444,446 | −4.8% |
| United Kingdom | 141,269,257 | 135,379,504 | −4.2% |
| Switzerland | 188,481,855 | 163,552,438 | −13.2% |
| Ukraine | 15,731,183 | 25,448,380 | +61.8% |
| Russian Federation | 42,388,617 | 28,894,461 | −31.8% |
| Norway | 30,160,058 | 22,319,466 | −26.0% |
| Serbia | 8,940,740 | 10,000,435 | +11.9% |
2.4 Volatility highlights risks in emerging supply chains
The volatility analysis reveals considerable instability in some import origins. The United Kingdom shows a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.64 — by far the highest among import partners — indicating highly erratic flows, likely a data or classification artefact post-Brexit. Cambodia (CV: 0.32), Pakistan (CV: 0.20), and Morocco (CV: 0.31) also display elevated volatility, suggesting that the diversification away from China has partly shifted risk to less mature supply chains. On the export side, Mexico (CV: 1.01) and Ukraine (CV: 0.28) stand out as volatile destinations.
3. Italy's dominance and the EU's production landscape
3.1 Italy is both the largest EU producer and exporter
Among EU Member States, Italy dominates both production and export activity. Italian exports rose from €540 million to €725 million (+34.3%), accounting for roughly 60% of total EU exports by value. Italy also shows the highest revealed symmetric comparative advantage (RSCA) among major economies at 0.34, with an RCA of 2.04, indicating strong specialisation. Denmark (RSCA: 0.43) and Romania (RSCA: 0.43) show even higher specialisation indices, though their absolute volumes are smaller.
3.2 German and Spanish exports have weakened
Not all EU exporters followed Italy's upward trajectory. Germany, the second-largest exporter, was essentially flat (+0.6%), while Spain saw exports plummet by 49.1% — from €72.4 million to €36.8 million. Netherlands also declined by 26.9%. These divergences suggest that the export growth in this category is increasingly concentrated in a few specialised producers, particularly Italy and Poland (which grew by 13.0%).
| EU Member State | First year exports (EUR) | Last year exports (EUR) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 540,097,394 | 725,353,788 | +34.3% |
| Germany | 123,267,946 | 124,056,243 | +0.6% |
| France | 110,897,772 | 110,662,534 | −0.2% |
| Netherlands | 84,663,536 | 61,883,128 | −26.9% |
| Poland | 50,136,884 | 56,663,649 | +13.0% |
| Spain | 72,358,480 | 36,844,205 | −49.1% |
| Sweden | 22,044,634 | 14,262,846 | −35.3% |
Source: Top reporters by value
3.3 EU production volumes have declined while value has increased
Available production data shows that EU production in tonnage terms fell from 12,300 tonnes to 9,000 tonnes (−26.8%), while production value rose from €413 million to €500 million (+21.1%). This mirrors the export trend: the EU is producing fewer physical units but at higher average prices, consistent with a shift toward premium, branded, or technically advanced outerwear. The average production value per tonne increased from approximately €33,574 to €55,556, a gain of 65%.
| Production metric | First year | Last year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity (tonnes) | 12,300,000 | 9,000,000 | −26.8% |
| Value (EUR) | 412,965,836 | 500,000,000 | +21.1% |
| Implied value/tonne | ~33,574 | ~55,556 | +65% |
3.4 Product sub-segments reveal diverging import patterns
The product category CN 620140 encompasses two sub-segments: 62014010 (garments ≤1 kg) and 62014090 (garments >1 kg). The lighter segment dominates imports by both volume and value. In 2025, imports of the ≤1 kg segment totalled 70,864 tonnes valued at €1.68 billion, while the >1 kg segment accounted for 43,039 tonnes at €850 million. Notably, the ≤1 kg segment saw a sharp decline in supplementary unit price — from €16.10 per piece to €1.50 per piece — while the >1 kg segment's price fell more moderately from €31.93 to €26.72. This anomaly in the lighter segment may reflect reporting changes or a surge in very low-cost imports.
On the export side, the ≤1 kg segment commands significantly higher prices: €154,665 per tonne versus €99,437 per tonne for the heavier segment, confirming the EU's strength in lighter, higher-value outerwear.
Source: Product segment breakdown
Conclusion
The EU market for men's synthetic outerwear (CN 620140) between 2015 and 2025 has undergone a structural transformation. Total import values declined by over a fifth, while the trade deficit narrowed by 38%, driven by a combination of falling import prices and rising export unit values. The most significant shift has been geographical: China's share has contracted sharply, with smaller Asian suppliers (Cambodia, Pakistan) partially filling the gap, though these new sources exhibit higher volatility. Within the EU, Italy has consolidated its position as the dominant producer and exporter, capturing the majority of export growth, while other Member States such as Spain and the Netherlands have lost ground. The EU's production base has pivoted toward higher-value output, producing fewer tonnes but generating greater revenue — a pattern consistent with the broader European strategy of competing on quality and brand rather than volume. Overall, the data suggests a market that is becoming more concentrated in specialised producers, less dependent on single-source imports, and increasingly oriented toward premium positioning in global markets.