"The recent IndexBox study ‘EU: bed linen analysis and forecast to 2025’ reveals the size of the bed linen market in the EU reached approx 495,000 tons in 2016, which is or 6 per cent more than previous years. Over the period from 2007 to 2016, the market experienced mixed trend patterns. From 2007-2010, there were somewhat pronounced fluctuations, followed by a dip over the next two years; however, it increased slightly from 2013 to 2016. In wholesale prices, the market also increased over the last four years, finally amounting to €3.1 billion in 2016."

The recent IndexBox study ‘EU: bed linen analysis and forecast to 2025’ reveals the size of the bed linen market in the EU reached approx 495,000 tons in 2016, which is or 6 per cent more than previous years. Over the period from 2007 to 2016, the market experienced mixed trend patterns. From 2007-2010, there were somewhat pronounced fluctuations, followed by a dip over the next two years; however, it increased slightly from 2013 to 2016. In wholesale prices, the market also increased over the last four years, finally amounting to €3.1 billion in 2016. This figure reflects the total revenue of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). Over the last nine years, the market value expanded at an annual average growth rate of +1.7 per cent.

Germany and UK the frontrunners

Amongst the EU members, Germany (17 per cent), the UK (17 per cent), France (13 per cent), Italy (12 per cent) constitute the countries with the largest volumes of bed linen consumption. The highest annual rates of growth in terms of bed linen consumption from 2007 to 2016 were recorded in the UK, with an average annual rate of +1.9 per cent. Meanwhile, consumption in France (+0.8 per cent), Italy (+0.4 per cent) and Germany (-0.5 per cent) remained relatively stable from 2007 to 2016. Levels of per capita consumption in the leading consuming countries were equivalent to the EU-average level of 1.0 kg/year; the highest per capita consumption was recorded in the UK (1.3 kg/person), where it grew steadily from 2007-2016.

In 2016, the volume of total production for bed linen stood at 134,000 tons. Overall, the volume of bed linen production decreased from 2007 to 2016, however, it rebounded slightly over the last three years; prior to that, it declined steadily from 2007-2013. Portugal (32 per cent of the total output), Italy (19 per cent) and Germany (14 per cent) constituted the countries with the highest levels of production in 2016, together accounting for 65 per cent of the total volume of production. In Portugal, bed linen production increased by +3.5 per cent annually from 2007 to 2016. Meanwhile, in Italy, production (-3.5 per cent per year) decreased over the period under review, and in Germany, it remained relatively stable over the period under review.

Major markets

The share of extra-EU imports in European consumption reached 80 per cent in 2016, against 71 per cent in 2007; indicating increasing reliance of European consumers on imported products, mainly from Pakistan, China and Turkey. Despite improved production figures over the past three years, high reliance on imports is expected to continue in the medium term. In 2016, bed linen exports in the EU was 208,000 tons, which was equal to €1.9B. Germany (43,000 tons), the Netherlands (24,000 tons), Portugal (23,000 tons) and Belgium (22,000 tons) constituted the main suppliers of bed linen among the EU members, with a combined share of 54 per cent of total exports in 2016. Among these countries, the Netherlands (+16.0 per cent per year) and Germany (+12.6 per cent per year) were as the fastest growing suppliers from 2007 to 2016, while exports from Portugal reduced on an average -2.2 per cent over the same period. While the share of Germany (+12 percentage points) and the Netherlands (+8 percentage points) increased significantly, the shares of Portugal (-6 percentage points) and Belgium (-3 percentage points) illustrated a negative dynamic.

Import scenario

In 2016, bed linen imports into the EU were 559,000 tons, which equated €3.8 billion. Germany (20 per cent of the total figure), the UK (16 per cent) and France (12 per cent) remain the main destinations of bed linen imports. Germany recorded the highest rates of growth in terms of EU imports, with a CAGR of +2.8 per cent. It was followed by the UK (+1.6 per cent) and France (+1.3 per cent). In 2016, the volume of extra-EU imports for bed linen stood at 394,000 tons, 8 per cent more than the previous year.