Knitted pantyhose and tights market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The Romanian knitted pantyhose and tights market experienced a sharp contraction in volume terms between 2019 and 2020, falling from 81 469 thousand units to 32 670 thousand units. This lower level of market volume persisted through 2022 and 2024, with the market size recorded at 33 537 thousand units in the latter year. In value terms, the market showed a different trajectory, declining from USD 28 349 thousand in 2020 to USD 28 884 thousand in 2022 before recovering to USD 42 645 thousand in 2024.

This shift was accompanied by a substantial drop in domestic production, which decreased from 82 272 thousand units in 2019 to approximately 32 000 thousand units in subsequent years. Both imports and exports also fell significantly from their 2018-2019 levels, with imports declining from 32 755 thousand units in 2018 to 21 337 thousand units in 2024, and exports dropping from 34 233 thousand units to 19 873 thousand units over the same period.

The market operated under the longstanding Methodological Norm for the naming, marking and labeling of textile products from 1996, which mandated fiber composition and care label information. A key domestic producer, Conte Spa, maintained its focus on quality and modern technology with a monthly production capacity of around 1 million pairs, serving Eastern European and CIS markets.

Production knitted pantyhose and tights in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Annual dynamics of production in Romania in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K unit

Romania's production of knitted pantyhose and tights reached 34,700 thousand units in 2020, representing a dramatic 57.8% decline compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K unit

Exports knitted pantyhose and tights from Romania

Exports in kind, K unit

Romania's exports of knitted pantyhose and tights declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports stood at 22,889 thousand units, down 30.1% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 26.4%, which translates to an annualized decline of 9.7%. The peak export volume was recorded in 2018 at 34,233 thousand units, with the largest year-on-year increase of 10.1% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K unit

From 2017 to 2020, France and Italy consistently accounted for 80.8% of Romania's total exports of knitted pantyhose and tights in volume terms, indicating a highly concentrated market with numerous smaller destinations making up the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Romania in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Romania's export value of knitted pantyhose and tights fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports amounted to 32,842 thousand US dollars, a 23.2% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value declined by 13.8%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 4.8%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 45,172 thousand US dollars, with the largest year-on-year increase of 18.6% also occurring in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Romania in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout the 2017–2020 period, France dominated Romania's export structure in value terms, accounting for 70.9% of total flows, while other markets played a less significant role.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Romania in value, 2017-2020

Imports knitted pantyhose and tights to Romania

Imports in kind, K unit

Romania's imports of knitted pantyhose and tights decreased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 20,859 thousand units, marking a steep 34.7% drop compared to 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports fell by 29.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -10.9%. The peak import volume was recorded in 2018 at 32,755 thousand units, with the largest year-on-year increase of 10.9% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K unit

From 2017 to 2020, France (28.9% of import volume), Italy (23.9%), and Poland (15.3%) were the main sources for Romania's imports of knitted pantyhose and tights, together accounting for 68.1% of total volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Romania in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Romania's import value of knitted pantyhose and tights declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 22,536 thousand US dollars, representing an abrupt 26.3% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value fell by 20.5%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 7.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 31,888 thousand US dollars, with the largest year-on-year increase of 12.6% also occurring in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Romania in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During the 2017–2020 period, France (24.4% of import value), Italy (22.8%), and Poland (16.7%) led Romania's import structure in value terms, together representing 64.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Romania in value, 2017-2020