International sales (outerwear, knitwear, shirts and leather wear) reached 61.3% of sectoral turnover. In contrast, domestic consumption is struggling to recover.
Analyzing the data for international sales by product line for the first eleven months of 2016 shows positive trends, ranging from a + 8.1% for shirts and a +2.6% for women's clothing, through a +5.0% of knitwear. In contrast, exports of leather goods is down -11.8%, for the second year in a row.
Foreign sales in the twelve months, should grow by +3.9%, reaching the 8 billion euro stake.
In contrast, imports of women's fashion, characterized by negative trends for much of 2016, and should be at approximately 2015 levels, or about 4.3 billion (+ 0.3%). The trade surplus in the sector should increase, reaching about 3.7 billion euros.
The main export markets
- Within the EU, France is the top export market of women's fashion made in Italy with a market share of 11.5%, and a growth of 4.4%, while Germany has grown by 5.0%.
- The United Kingdom continues on positive trend, with a growth of 4.6%.
- The Spain, after the double-digit growth experienced in 2015, has decelerated to 5.2%.
- The United States and Hong Kong both grew by more than 20% in 2015, and are now significantly slowing down to -1.2% and respectively+6%.
- Exports to Russia, were -32.6% in 2015,but progressive recovery has been witnessed in the first eleven months of the year, leading to a shy but important positive trend equal to + 0.6%.
- Japan, reversed the trend in 2015, and saw a consolidate growth, accelerating to 5.1%.
- Exports to China increased to +8.7%, while South Korea marks an increase of 5.4%.
Retail
During the period under review the retail chains, with 45.7% of the market value, have shown an increase by 4.3%.
Online sales, instead, experienced a change equivalent to 19.2% (significantly higher than the 10.8 percent marked in the same period by men’s fashion) and thus reaching 5.1% market share.
Independent retail once again experienced great losses to the extent of -8.7%, dropping to 24.3% share. The GDOloses -6.5%, while the sales mediated by outlets loses over 30%.
Centro Studi di Sistema Moda Italia