Norway’s apparel imports rose by *.** per cent year on year to $*.*** billion during January–August ****, reflecting a recovery in demand following a contraction in ****. However, declining average import unit values over recent years suggest a growing emphasis on affordability and cost-competitive sourcing. China and Bangladesh continued to dominate the market, together accounting for more than half of Norway’s apparel imports.
Norway’s apparel import market is showing signs of a gradual shift towards more price-conscious sourcing, as import quantities have increased over recent years without a corresponding rise in expenditure. Although the latest figures indicate a recovery in import value, the longer-term trend suggests that Norwegian apparel buyers may be placing greater emphasis on competitive pricing, sourcing efficiency and value for money.
The country’s apparel imports reached $*.*** billion during the first eight months of ****, compared with $*.*** billion in the corresponding period of ****, representing an increase of $** million, according to sourcing intelligence tool TexPro.
