The EU external trade in 2008 report includes, under part A, an analysis of EU external trade in 2008 global sector, as well as countries that are the main suppliers or customers of the EU. It also evaluates the weight of regions and sectors in EU trade during the period under review. Furthermore, part B gives a special report with tables and graphs for each of the 33 main EU trade partners.

With a household consumption of at least 450 Billion Euro, the EU 27 is the largest world market for textile and clothing products. The European industry is the world's second exporter of textiles and the third for clothing. Its annual turnover is 197,810 Billion Euro and its 147,407 companies employ 2.3 million workers.

The authors main objective is to promote the interests of its members while taking into account the European Union's institutional framework and its international obligations.

As the voice of the European textile and clothing industry, the authors main objective is to create an environment with in the European Union which is conducive to the manufacture of textile and clothing products. Its headquarters in Brussels are within touching distance of the major decision-making bodies of the EU, at Commission, Parliament and Council level.

In this context, the major areas of concern to the authors over recent years have been: to ensure the smoothest possible transition into the quota-free era, to promote a further expansion of the EU exports of textiles and clothing, to promote legislation and its application in the field of intellectual property, to support measures which enhance environmental protection but which are at the same time acceptable to the industry, to promote and participate in research, development, innovation and other educational or social projects which bring value added to the industry at European level, to engage in a constructive social dialogue at EU level with our social partners, and to disseminate economic and statistical data to the membership.

Executive Summary:

In 2008, the EU-27 textile and clothing trade was characterised by minor but continued growth in imports and negative drop in exports, leading to a decline in export-import ratio. The Euro-USD exchange rate soared in 2008, continuing its negative impact on our exports. Trade deficit of total textiles and clothing further grew by +1.3%, exceeding -47 billion Euros.

The analysis of the 2008 EU-27 trade with the world's major trading blocs confirms that: China continued to expand its market share of textile and clothing products in the European Union to 38.7%, compared to 34.3% the year before. The second largest supplier, the Mediterranean zones market share decreased to 22.3% compared with 24.4% in 2007. The SAARC region was the third, with a market share of 18.1%. The three totalled 79.1% of the supply of the EUs textile and clothing imports.

Not surprisingly, the analysis of trade per sector showed that woven garments and woven fabrics remained the main products exported (respectively 30.2% and 28%), whereas woven clothes and knitwear (respectively 38% and 35.1%) were still, by far, with slight expansion of market shares compared to the year before, the major products imported by the EU.

Key Topics Covered:

• GLOBAL TRADE: FIBRES, TEXTILES, CLOTHING
• Fiber trade
• Trade in textile and clothing products
• Textile and clothing trade balance
• WEIGHT OF REGIONS AND SECTORS IN EU TRADE IN 2008.
• Weight of regional blocs and sectors in the EUs total imports
• Weight of regional blocs and sectors in the EUs total exports
• MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS OF TEXTILE AND CLOTHING PRODUCTS IN 2008.
• Textile and clothing customers
• Textile and clothing suppliers
• MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS

Products Mentioned:

Textiles, Clothing, Man-Made Fibres, yarns, fabrics, special fabrics,carpets, woven and knitted garments

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/797a9f/the_eu_external_tr