Trade association calls for effective control of imports from third countries
The BTE estimates that consumers in Germany bought around one billion items of clothing and shoes from non-European suppliers and platforms such as Shein and Temu last year. This was revealed by an analysis of the preliminary foreign trade statistics, according to which the domestic volume (imports minus exports) of clothing and shoes fell dramatically in 2023 compared to the previous year. For the BTE, this can only be explained by a high number of direct imports by consumers from Asia, which are not taken into account in the foreign trade statistics.
In 2023, the officially recorded domestic supply was 3.514 million items of clothing and 266 million pairs of shoes. In 2022, it was 4.457 million items of clothing and 413 million pairs of shoes. Statistically speaking, the corresponding supply for consumers has fallen by 1.090 million items or 22,4 percent within a year. The low domestic production was not taken into account.
However, these figures are in clear discrepancy with consumer behavior. According to the representative Consumer Panel Services GfK, the number of items of clothing purchased was only slightly below the 2022 figure. Theoretically, this difference could be explained by a liquidation of previously built-up stocks or overproduction, but this seems unrealistic to this extent.
The BTE assumes that the supply gap is primarily due to direct imports by end consumers from rapidly expanding providers such as Shein and Temu, which are not taken into account in foreign trade statistics. After all, both companies together are said to send around 400.000 packages to Germany every day.
The BTE therefore estimates that the actual quantity of fashion and shoes offered or purchased in Germany has hardly decreased in the last year due to the sharp increase in the number of uncontrolled imports from the Far East. According to BTE's findings, these often do not comply with the requirements applicable in the EU and are sometimes even dangerous to consumers' health. The BTE, together with the German Retail Association (HDE), is calling for effective controls on imports from third countries so that customers are protected and fair competition is again guaranteed for all players within the EU!
