Exporting swimwear to Europe

Europe is a strong market for swimwear, with a total import value of €2.1 billion and an average growth rate of 8.5% over the last five years. The biggest markets include Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The larger product subsegment is women’s and girls’ swimsuits, while men’s and boys’ swimsuit products is the smaller product subsegment.

The European swimwear market is characterised by dynamic changes in the style and designs, especially of women’s swimwear as bikinis and swimsuits, and it is also growing steadily in total imports and volumes. Due to the growing demand for swimwear by customers for leisure (and vacations), the market is expected to grow further in the next few years.

You must comply with several legal requirements, including REACH, when exporting swimwear to Europe. Buyers may also have requirements regarding sustainable production and product development. Interesting channels to get your product on the market are intermediaries such as private label companies, (small) brands and retailers and multi-brand online platforms. There are many interesting niches in this category, including performance wear, special sizes, adaptive and modest wear.

The following information is intended to illustrate the most important opportunities and threats and act as a guideline for entrepreneurs considering exporting swimwear to the EU.