According to Fibre2Fashion’s market insight tool TexPro, Germany’s imports of home textiles declined to $6.433 billion in 2022 from the peak of $12.715 billion in 2020. Although the overall trend is downward, made-ups remained the top import product with a 27.89% share, amounting to $1.794 billion.
While made-ups saw a decline in imports from 2020, which soared by 565.62% to $8.417 billion, imports of bed products came in second with a value of $1.549 billion and a share of 24.08%. Window products followed with $750.471 million (11.66%), floor products with $710.111 million (11.04%), and bathroom & kitchen products with $493.103 million (7.66%).
Despite the decline in imports, China remained the largest supplier of home textiles to Germany in 2022, accounting for 27.15% of the total imports with a value of $1.746 billion. Turkiye, Poland, Netherlands, and Pakistan were among the top five suppliers, with a share of 10.49%, 8.80%, 8.73%, and 8.02% of the total, respectively.
The pandemic has caused a significant impact on the global textile industry, and Germany’s home textile imports have not been an exception. However, the industry remains optimistic about the future, and there are indications of a rebound in the coming years.
Experts suggest that the industry’s future growth will depend on innovation, technology, and sustainability. The industry needs to focus on product differentiation, modernization of production processes, and the use of sustainable materials to meet the demands of consumers.
In conclusion, the decline in Germany’s home textile imports in 2022 may be concerning, but it does not indicate a collapse of the industry. Made-ups continue to be the top import product, and with the right strategies, the industry can make a comeback in the post-pandemic era.