The US was the largest market for apparel exports from African nations during January-June 2022. These countries have exported apparel of $1.416 billion to the US in the first half of this year which was 22.45 per cent of the total exports of $6.307 billion.

Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Ethiopia are prominent apparel exporting countries in Africa. 

Spain was the second biggest market for African apparel, which is surprising as the country’s brands like Inditex and Mango are global apparel players.

The European country imported garments worth $1.280 billion in the same period, amounting to 20.30 per cent of the total exports from African countries, according to Fibre2Fashion’s market insight tool TexPro. 

Africa exported apparel worth $923.375 million to France, making it the third largest market for African apparel with a share of 14.64 per cent. Italy and Germany were fourth and fifth largest markets for Africa with apparel imports worth $414.656 million and $391.592 million, respectively.

Interestingly, four European countries made it to the list of the top five markets for African apparel. 
Moreover, countries like UK, Netherlands, UAE, South Africa, and Belgium made it to the top 10 list. African apparel exports to UK stood at $347.178 million (5.50 per cent), Netherlands at $179.025 million (2.44 per cent), UAE at $153.634 million (2.44 per cent), South Africa at $146.877 (2.33 per cent) and Belgium at $104.782 million (1.66 per cent). 

Northern countries of Africa have an edge in the European market due to their proximity to the continent.