Central and Eastern European countries and North Africa: The emerging clothing supplying countries to the EU

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the delocalization trend of the EU's clothing production to Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) and North Africa, focusing on the geographical shift of outsourced clothing production pattern within the two developing regions.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 14 CEECs and North African countries were selected and classified into 1st‐tier and 2nd‐tier regions according to their GDP/capita values. Clothing trade statistics were obtained from the Eurostat database, and the clothing trade pattern was examined during 1995 to 2004. Trade Specialization Coefficient (TSC) was employed to measure the international competitiveness of clothing exports of the selected CEECs and North African countries.

Findings

Results concluded that the EU's clothing production had significantly delocalized to the proximate CEECs and North African regions, with further geographical shift to less‐developing 2nd‐tier clothing supplying countries in recent years. The TSC analysis reflected that the competitiveness of clothing industry in 2nd‐tiers had outperformed the 1st‐tier economies, indicating Western European firms had shifted their sourcing practices to those lower‐waged countries.

Originality/value

This study gives insight into the EU clothing production industry and their delocalized pattern to the CEECs and North Africa.

Citation

Wong, M. and Au, K. (2007), "Central and Eastern European countries and North Africa: The emerging clothing supplying countries to the EU", Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 56-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/13612020710734409