What this market covers
Underwear garments that support and shape the breasts, sold in everyday, sports, maternity and specialty styles. Buyers are mainly women across all ages.
Typical segments
- Everyday bras
- Sports bras
- Maternity and nursing bras
- Strapless and wireless bras
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +10% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €41.8 million of products under CN code 62121010 (Brassières of all types of textile materials, whether or not elasticated, incl. knitted) from outside the EU in 2025. | 41.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 62121010 were up 10% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€38.1 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +10 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 62121010 to countries outside the EU were worth €10.7 million in 2025. | 10.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 62121010 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €36.7 million in 2025. | 36.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| China was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 62121010 to the EU in 2025, with €28.1 million, or 67% of extra-EU imports. | 28.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 62121010 to the United States were €703 thousand in 2025. | 703 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 62121010 was €28.12 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 28.12 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Italy was the largest EU exporter of CN 62121010 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €3.5 million. | 3.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 4,300 enterprises in NACE class C1414 (Manufacture of underwear) in 2023. | 4,300 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C1414 had net turnover of €6.48 billion in 2023. | 6.48 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1414 employed 72,956 people across the EU in 2023. | 72,956 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 2,474 private establishments in NAICS 315250 (Cut and sew apparel manufacturing (except contractors)) in 2025. | 2,474 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 315250 employed an average of 42,206 people in US private industry in 2025. | 42,206 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 315250 was $66,822 in 2025. | 66,822 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 62121010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 41836574
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 62121010, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 38073998; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 41836574
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 62121010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 10715611
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 62121010, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 36742378
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 62121010, partner CN, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 28080679
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 62121010, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 703433
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 62121010, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 41836574, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 14879
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter IT, product 62121010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3534374
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1414, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 4300
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1414, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 6476
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1414, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 72956
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 315250, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 315250, annual_avg_estabs 2474
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 315250, annual_avg_emplvl 42206
- Figure 14
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 315250, avg_annual_pay 66822
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Lingerie retailers
- Department stores
- Online shoppers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU bra market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €41.8 million of goods under CN 62121010 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €10.7 million.
Where does the EU import bra from?
China was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Bangladesh, Tunisia, Viet Nam.
What is the average import price of bra in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €28.12 per kilogram for CN 62121010 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most bra?
Italy led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Netherlands, Belgium.
How many US companies are in the bra industry?
BLS counts 2,474 private establishments in NAICS 315250 (Cut and sew apparel manufacturing (except contractors)), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the bra industry?
Eurostat counts 4,300 enterprises in NACE class C1414 (Manufacture of underwear).
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