France imports: CB textiles, clothing and leather
France imports: CB textiles, clothing and leather stood at 3,789 EUR million in Aug 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Trade balance and trade by product table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2016 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Trade balance and trade by product table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports by product | |||||||||||
| CB - Textiles, clothing, leather and footwear | 3,789 | 3,792 | 3,700 | 3,765 | 3,718 | 3,670 | 3,656 | 3,628 | 3,891 | 3,690 | |
| CC - Wood, paper and cardboard | 1,251 | 1,273 | 1,291 | 1,327 | 1,294 | 1,302 | 1,282 | 1,264 | 1,262 | 1,273 |
Understanding france imports: CB textiles, clothing and leather
International arrivals of woven fabrics, finished garments, leather accessories, and completed footwear arriving from foreign producers define this trade variable. The metric tracks the customs clearance value of wearable apparel and textile raw materials, excluding second-hand garments sold in bulk and personal luggage carried across borders by individual travelers. Unlike heavy industrial machinery or chemical inputs, this category focuses entirely on consumer-facing soft goods and the intermediate textile supplies feeding domestic apparel finishing.
Reading these monthly flows requires accounting for intense fashion seasonality, early retail inventory build-ups ahead of major shopping seasons, and shifting sourcing geography across international garment hubs. Early estimates often undergo retroactive adjustments as complex supply chain networks report late customs documentation. Analysts must compare seasonally adjusted series to filter out predictable retail cycles, and should avoid treating raw monthly changes as permanent shifts in consumer demand without verifying broader retail sales indicators.
Frequently asked questions
- Are personal clothing items carried by travelers included?
- Personal luggage and private non-commercial carry-ons are omitted from these official commercial customs totals.
- Why do textile and apparel imports exhibit sharp seasonal patterns?
- Retailers routinely front-load inventory shipments well ahead of major holiday shopping periods and seasonal wardrobe transitions.
- How does this apparel series differ from other manufactured goods?
- It concentrates exclusively on soft goods, fabrics, and footwear, separating them from hard goods, electronics, and industrial inputs.