One remarkable finding you will learn from this analysis is that the global value of exported real fur clothing is worth over 30 times higher than worldwide spending on artificial furskin clothes. Both high-level product categories exclude fur gloves.
Comprising statistics from all countries, combined exports of both real and artificial fur clothing other than gloves were worth a total US$3.51 billion in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a -28.3% decrease from $4.9 billion over the five-year period starting in 2017.
Year over year, overall international sales for fur clothing exports dropped less dramatically via a -9% decline from $3.86 billion for 2020.
Major Trends for Globally Exported Fur Clothing
The value of exported authentic fur apparel excluding gloves amounted to $3.41 billion or 97% of the global total for fur clothing including those made with artificial fur. Artificial fur clothes accounted for the remaining 4% of the overall sum, representing a comparatively modest subtotal worth $105.8 million.
By value, the world’s 5 biggest exporters for all varieties of fur clothing are mainland China, Italy, Turkey, France and Greece. Collectively, that subgroup of leading furskin wardrobe suppliers generated 90.8% of global exports sales for fur clothing during 2021.
Mainland China collected almost three-quarters (73.2%) of the total revenues from worldwide exported fur apparel encompassing both authentic and artificial clothing items.
Among continents, Asian countries sold the highest dollar worth of exported real plus artificial fur clothing during 2021 with shipments totaling $2.78 billion or 79.1% of the overall total. In second place were European suppliers at 19.1%.
Tinier percentages originated from North America (1.2%), Latin America (0.32%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (0.24%) led by Australia, then Africa (0.02%).
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 4303 for real fur clothing other than gloves and 4304 for versions made from artificial materials also excluding gloves.
Overall Top Exporters of Fur Clothing by Country
The 15 countries below exported the highest dollar value worth for real and artificial apparel excluding gloves during 2021.
- China: US$2.6 billion (73.2% of overall exported fur clothing)
- Italy: $362.5 million (10.3%)
- Turkey: $101.3 million (2.9%)
- France: $90.9 million (2.6%)
- Greece: $65.2 million (1.9%)
- Hong Kong: $51.7 million (1.5%)
- Germany: $33.6 million (1%)
- United States: $31.8 million (0.9%)
- India: $22.9 million (0.7%)
- United Kingdom: $19.2 million (0.5%)
- Netherlands: $14.9 million (0.4%)
- Bulgaria: $12.5 million (0.4%)
- Spain: $12.3 million (0.3%)
- Canada: $10.6 million (0.3%)
- Sweden: $9.2 million (0.3%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.1% of all fur clothing exported in 2021 excluding gloves.
Among the above countries, the leading growth exporters of real and authentic fur clothing combined since 2017 were: India (up 114.8%), Sweden (up 110.9%), Netherlands (up 30.7%), Bulgaria (up 10.3%) and the United States of America (up 8.4%).
The leading suppliers that posted declines in their international sales of fur clothing were led by: Hong Kong (down -60.9%), Greece (down -57.5%), Germany (down -46.9%), Canada (down -38.5%) and the United Kingdom (down -32%).
Top Exporters of Authentic Fur Clothing by Country
Below are the 15 countries that exported in 2021 the highest dollar value worth of apparel made from real fur, excluding gloves.
The dollar total spent on exported real fur apparel plunged by -29.2% since 2017 and reduced by -9.9% from 2020 to 2021.
- China: US$2.5 billion (73.7% of exported real fur clothing)
- Italy: $353.7 million (10.4%)
- Turkey: $100.8 million (3%)
- France: $87.7 million (2.6%)
- Greece: $65.2 million (1.9%)
- Hong Kong: $51.2 million (1.5%)
- Germany: $31.4 million (0.9%)
- United States: $30.8 million (0.9%)
- India: $22.8 million (0.7%)
- United Kingdom: $17.6 million (0.5%)
- Bulgaria: $12.2 million (0.4%)
- Spain: $11.9 million (0.4%)
- Canada: $10.5 million (0.3%)
- Sweden: $8.9 million (0.3%)
- South Korea: $8.5 million (0.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.6% of all real fur clothing exported in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of real fur clothing since 2017 were Sweden (up 117%) and India (up 116.3%).
Those countries that posted declines in their international sales of real fur clothing were led by: Hong Kong (down -60.7%), Greece (down -57.5%), Germany (down -49.8%) and Canada (down -38.5%).
Top Exporters of Artificial Fur Apparel by Country
Below are the 15 countries that exported in 2021 the highest dollar value worth of fur clothing made from artificial materials. Like the real fur clothing statistics, this product category excludes gloves.
The dollar total spent on exported artificial clothing increased by 23.4% since 2017.
From 2020 to 2021, worldwide exports of artificial fur apparel exports accelerated by 34.9%.
- China: US$60.8 million (57.5% of exported artificial furskin apparel)
- Netherlands: $10.1 million (9.5%)
- Italy: $8.8 million (8.3%)
- France: $3.2 million (3%)
- Thailand: $2.8 million (2.7%)
- Germany: $2.3 million (2.1%)
- Syrian Arab Republic: $1.8 million (1.7%)
- Belgium: $1.7 million (1.6%)
- United Kingdom: $1.6 million (1.5%)
- Poland: $1.5 million (1.4%)
- Belarus: $964,000 (0.9%)
- Russia: $944,000 (0.9%)
- United States: $934,000 (0.9%)
- Bangladesh: $715,000 (0.7%)
- Armenia: $674,000 (0.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 93.4% of all artificial furskin apparel exported in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of artificial furskin apparel since 2017 were: France (up 576.7%), Poland (up 570.2%), Bangladesh (up 521.7%) and Germany (up 202.3%).
A trio of major suppliers posted declines in their international sales of artificial furskin apparel namely Thailand (down -77.9%), United States of America (down -20.1%) and Italy (down -7.6%).
Average Prices for Top Real Fur Clothing Exporters
Below, you will find the average prices paid per ton of authentic fur clothing excluding gloves.
The scope of this list is limited to the world’s biggest exporters by total international sales of real fur clothing during 2021.
Top suppliers of real fur clothing are listed in descending order based on their total international sales in 2021.
- China: US$221,584 average price per ton
- Italy: $485,174 per ton
- Turkey: $141,046 per ton
- France: $617,317 per ton
- Greece: $505,240 per ton
- Hong Kong: $579,542 per ton
- Germany: $164,259 per ton
- India: $27,012 per ton
- United Kingdom: $279,619 per ton
- Bulgaria: $132,826 per ton
- Spain: $187,012 per ton
The highest average costs of exported clothing made from real fur belong to France, Hong Kong, Greece and Italy.
By far, India is the source for the lowest-cost apparel made from authentic fur.
Note that the United States of America is also a major supplier of real fur clothing. However, the US reports its average price per unit sold, not in terms of tons. America’s average price per unit sold was about $200 for each item.
Average Prices for Major Artificial Fur Clothing Exporters
Listed below are the average prices paid per ton of artificial fur clothing apparel excluding gloves for the world’s biggest exporters of artificial fur clothing.
Top suppliers of artificial fur clothing are listed in descending order based on their total international sales in 2021.
- China: US$11,702 average price per ton
- Netherlands: $60,958 per ton
- Italy: $42,544 per ton
- France: $69,587 per ton
- Thailand: $10,075 per ton
- Germany: $66,676 per ton
- Syria: $3,053 per ton
- Belgium: $27,491 per ton
- United Kingdom: $86,778 per ton
- Poland: $21,829 per ton
The highest average cost exporters of clothing made from artificial fur are the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands and Italy.
The lowest-cost top exporter of artificial fur apparel is the Syrian Arab Republic.
See also Top Toys Exporters for Traditional Toys Versus Video Games, Exported Paintings and Drawings by Country, Grapes Exports by Country and Top Soft Drinks Exporters by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on December 9, 2022
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on December 9, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on December 9, 2022
Wikipedia, Fur clothing. Accessed on December 9, 2022