Greek exports of clothing and textiles – one of Greece’s key manufacturing sectors − have risen sharply, underscoring the industry’s resilience and positioning the sector for future growth as the world emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

In the nine months to September, exports of clothing and textiles jumped 23.7% to €1.4 billion, according to data from the Hellenic Fashion Industry Association. The recovery in world trade, combined with global supply chain problems − especially with regard to raw materials and final products from Asia − have helped boost Greek producers as suppliers to Southeast Europe and beyond.

This bodes well for the sector, which has undergone far-reaching restructuring in the past two decades and is one of Greece’s major export industries. In recent months, amid concerns about the fragility of global supply chains, European thought leaders have been rethinking supply chain strategies following the pandemic. Increasingly, analysts have suggested reshoring production capabilities to reduce Europe’s reliance on far away source markets for goods and materials.

According to the data, in the nine months to September clothing exports increased 19.2% compared with the same period a year earlier to reach €700 million. Likewise, textile exports rose 12.8% to €330 million. Particularly noteworthy was also a 47% increase in cotton exports, which jumped to €360 million, HFIA said.