Exports
The major globally-consumed natural fibre is cotton.
Cotton remained the most exported natural fibre in Europe with 52% in 2017, ahead of flox with 34% and wool with 16%.
In 2017 extra EU-28 exports were practically unchanged in value with 416.4 million euros (+0.4%). In value terms exports slip at 278.8 tons (-3.1%).
Table 1: Cotton EU-28 exports
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Million euros | 354.6 | 414.7 | 416.4 |
| Evol% | +16.9% | +0.4% | |
| Tons | 259.5 | 287.2 | 278.2 |
| Evol% | +10.7% | -3.1% |
Imports
As ever, cotton was the most in demand natural fibre in terms of volume.
Cotton represented 20% of all natural fibres imports in value and 42% in volume.
In 2017 extra EU-28 imports increased by 8.8%, at 252.8 million tons. In value the increase reached 27.5%, at 375.9 million euros. In the first half of 2017 cotton prices were bullish and then tended downwards.
Table 2: Cotton EU-28 imports
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Million euros | 340.7 | 294.9 | 375.9 |
| Evol% | -13.4% | +27.5% | |
| Tons | 263.4 | 232.3 | 252.8 |
| Evol% | -11.8% | +8.8% |