According to data from the Hellenic Association of Knitwear and Ready-to-Wear Manufacturers (SEPEE), the apparel and textile industry appears to be continuing to face difficulties in the first quarter of 2026.
Exports and domestic sales remain sluggish and continue to be a concern for businesses.
Retail clothing sales in the domestic market saw a slight increase of 1.8% and reached a value of 737 million euros in the first quarter of 2026.
Exports by the apparel and textile sector recorded an 8% decline.
The total value of exports in the first quarter of 2026 amounted to 417 million euros, compared to 452 million in 2025.
Clothing exports showed a slight increase of 0.4%, while textile exports, on the other hand, fell by 18%. Cotton exports were down by 10.7%.
Imports also recorded a 3.4% decrease. For the entire apparel and textile chain , the value reached 841 million euros in 2026, compared to 873 million euros in the first quarter of 2025.
The decline in textile imports was greater, amounting to 11.8%, while that of apparel imports amounted to 0.5%.