Austria’s apparel imports rose by nearly * per cent to $*.*** billion in the first half of ****, but the modest overall increase concealed a sharp change in sourcing. Imports from Asia-Pacific more than doubled, while those from Europe fell. However, European nations remained the largest apparel suppliers, with a three-fourths contribution.
According to sourcing intelligence tool TexPro, Asia-Pacific supplied apparel worth $***.*** million in January–June ****, up *** per cent from $***.*** million a year earlier. Its share of Austria’s imports climbed to **.** per cent from **.** per cent. Europe remained the dominant source at $*.*** billion, but its share fell to **.** per cent from **.** per cent as imports declined by about ** per cent.
The shift had already begun in ****. Asia-Pacific’s share of Austria’s full-year apparel imports rose to **.** per cent from *.** per cent in ****, while Europe’s share declined to **.** per cent from **.** per cent. The first-half **** figures suggest that the change accelerated.
