The first-quarter performance continues a multi-year weakening trend. Bulgaria&#**;s apparel exports rose from $*.** billion in **** to a record $*.** billion in ****, before declining to $*.** billion in ****, $*.** billion in **** and $*.** billion in ****, according to sourcing intelligence tool TexPro. Compared with the **** peak, exports have fallen by about **.* per cent in the last year, indicating sustained pressure on the country&#**;s apparel sector amid softer European demand and changing sourcing patterns.
Germany retained its position as Bulgaria&#**;s leading apparel destination during January-March ****, accounting for $**.** million, or **.** per cent, of total exports. The country has remained Bulgaria&#**;s largest apparel export market throughout the period, highlighting the country&#**;s continued dependence on demand from the EU&#**;s largest economy.
France followed with $**.** million (**.** per cent), while Italy ranked third with $**.** million (**.** per cent) in the first quarter of this year. Exports to Russia nearly halved to $**.** million from $**.** million a year earlier, reducing its share to *.** per cent from *.** per cent in Q*, ****.
Product wise analysis indicates, trousers and shorts remained Bulgaria&#**;s largest export category, generating $**.** million and accounting for **.** per cent of apparel exports in the first quarter of this year. Coats contributed $**.** million (**.** per cent), followed closely by T-shirts at $**.** million (**.** per cent), jerseys at $**.** million (*.** per cent), and shirts at $**.** million (*.** per cent), as per TexPro.
