Our research provides an in-depth examination of the top buyers buying from Pakistan and top suppliers from Pakistan in both 2023 and 2024, highlighting trends and shifts in the market. The report includes a detailed comparison of quantity and average price between the two years, offering valuable insights into the denim trade.

Key highlights of the report include following charts and graphs :

1)Quantity and Average Price List Of Top Denim Brands / Retailers from Pakistan ( Jan – Jun 2024)

2)Quantity and Average Price List Of Top Denim Garments Brands / Retailers from Pakistan ( Jan – Jun 2023)

3)Comparison of quantity , average price and number of suppliers of Top Denim Garments Brands / Retailers ( 2023 vs 2024 )

4)Quantity , Average Price List and % share Of Top Denim Garments Importing Regions/Countries from Pakistan ( Jan – Jun 2024)

5)Quantity , Average Price List and % share Of Top Denim Garments Importing Regions/Countries from Pakistan ( Jan – Jun 2023)

6)Comparison of quantity , average price and number of suppliers of Top Denim Garments Importing Regions/Countries ( 2023 vs 2024 )

7)Quantity and Average Price of Top Denim Garments Suppliers of Pakistan ( Jan – Jun 2024 )

8)Quantity and Average Price Of Top Denim Garments Suppliers of Pakistan ( Jan – Jun 2023)

9) Comparison of quantity and average price of Top Denim Garments Suppliers ( 2023 vs 2024 )

This report is an essential resource for industry stakeholders, providing a comprehensive understanding of the denim trade from Pakistan and its impact on the global market.

Table : Top Buyers of Denim Garments Buying From Pakistan : January – June 2024

Check out the other reports below:

https://www.denimsandjeans.com/subscriber-only-reports-3

Pakistan and Bangladesh both enjoy GSP benefit to EU and this has helped them to take a major share of market away from China which was the previous holder of major share in this market. We try to understand how these countries have developed their exports to the EU during these 3 years

Jeans Exported To EU By Bangladesh (BD) And Pakistan (PK) During 2016-18

By the end of the year 2018, the total denim exports by Bangladesh to the EU stood at 238.66 million pcs, which is 14% more than the export of 2016 and 11% more than 2017. Pakistan, on the other hand, exported 105.6 million pcs of denim to the EU by the end of 2019 which is only 2% higher than the export of 2016. The year 2018 also witnessed a marginal decline of 3.94 lacs pcs in the export from 2017.

Average Price (Euro/Pc) Of Jeans Exported

Bangladesh is one of the cost-competitive countries and due to various factors like lower costs, efficiencies and large capacities, the country has been exporting denim at very competitive prices. Bangladesh exported its Jeans at an  average price of Euro 5.71/pc in 2018 whereas Pakistan exported at Euro 7.03/Pc. Though the prices cannot strictly be compared unless there is a comparison of types of products exported, their complexities, volumes,  qualities, types of buyers etc but on broader terms, Bangladesh’s prices were lower than that of Pakistan.

Another interesting fact to note is that both countries have become more competitive in terms of price over a period of three years and we can see the changes in the below table and graphs.Increased competition among themselves and with countries like Vietnam and Ethiopia with a better geographical dividend and huge FDIs in past years made the trade little more intense. It is a reflection of a sad fact of our industry that with each passing year we are actually reducing the prices whereas the costs of production are going up ! .This also reflects that our industry is oversaturated with supply far exceeding the demand.

Jeans – Women & Men, Exported To EU By Bangladesh (BD) And Pakistan (PK) During 2016-18

Interesting to note that Pakistan is more focused on Men’s jeans with its Men jeans volume being almost double than that of women. However, in the period of 2016-28, the %age of women jeans is slowly increasing but its exports are still majorly dominated by Men’s Jeans.

Bangladesh also exports more Men’s jeans but their gap between the two is not so much. The exports of Men’s jeans was about 50% more than that of Women’s in 2016 whereas in 2018 it is about 30% more. So Bangladesh has probably better adapted to women jeans production over the years taking a major share away from China which was the major exporter of Women jeans.

Average Price (Euro/Pc) Of Jeans ( Men & Women) Exported

The average price of Women Denim is  lower side as compared to the average price of Men’s Denim for both the countries. In 2018, Bangladesh exported Men’s denim at an average price of Euro 5.88/Pc and Women’s denim at an average price of Euro 5.51/Pc, Pakistan exported the same at Euro 7.22/Pc and Euro 6.66/Pc respectively. But the drop in prices of women denim is more sharp for both the countries over a 3 year period. Bangladesh reduced its Men’s denim prices by about 6% from 2016 to 2018 whereas Pakistan reduced the prices of the same by about 5%. In Women’s denim , the reduction by BD is about 8.5% whereas that of PK is about 9% .

The total volume of both countries stands at about 330 million pieces of jeans to EU. This is more than 50% of total exports to EU which stands at about 600 million pcs. The share of these countries is expected to grow over the next few years and China would be one of the biggest loser of its share in this market.

Table Of Contents

1. All Denim Apparels

a. China

Pakistan is one of the most important apparel exporting countries for denim and it has been increasing its exports of jeans and other denim apparel exports to both US and EU . Lets have a look at how Pakistan has been performing in the last 2 years in this report.

Table of Contents

1. Please tell us something about Soorty Denim and its history..

The name Soorty is synonymous with garments since the last 25 years. Soorty Denim’s history is comparatively newer. In fact, the first denim mill was built in 2005 with a view to cater its own garment needs. After the success of the first mill, the second mill was also started to cater to the export of fabrics after a tremendous increase in demand in global markets. We can now proudly claim our mill as about the largest one in Pakistan with a capacity of 3.2 million meters per month. Out of our capacity of 3.2 million meters/month, around 1.4 million is used to produce 60,000 garments a day and the remaining 1.8 million is available for exports of fabric.

Soorty Denim has been the fastest growing denim mill in Pakistan since its inception. Soorty Enterprises Ltd. as a whole employs more than 12,000 people in 12 units across Karachi. Our factories are certified by ISO 9001:2009, BSCI, SA 8000, GOTS, OE 100 as well as WRAP.
Our vertical integration helps us achieve precision and the utmost excellence in the manufacturing of our garments, right from its foundations. Going forward, we feel those companies who have garment and spinning units under their own umbrella will be the ones succeeding long-term.

2. What are the main product strengths of your company ? What kind of customer base do you cater to ?

Our vision is to bring the right product in the market at the right time – to be proactive, ever-evolving, innovative and product development leaders. We are ready to experiment with anything new. Currently, we are mainly doing bottoms, specializing in constructing high quality fabrics for use in ladies high stretch jeggings. We experiment with different kinds of slubs and fibers such as modal, viscose and wool and weave with techniques that add value and uniqueness to our product. Coupled with our European laundry and garment expertise, we always have the extra edge when it comes to new developments. Our washing plant has collaborated with an Italian laundry team of 6 technicians from Martelli who have provided 2 years’ worth extensive training to our employees. The plant is one of its kinds in Asia and has been acclaimed by some buyers as the best they have seen in the region. We take pride in our ability to produce any sort of wash currently in the market.

Having our own RnD dept. in both denim and garment divisions also benefits us tremendously as both teams are constantly researching and working together to create new collections and conjure new ideas. At the denim mill, our product development manager from Montebello works on our seasonal collections and a different Italian designer works with us in the garment division. Washing expertise is always available for help and experimentation during their research. The washing unit actually has its own RnD dept. that helps in research for different types of washes. Having this whole vertical chain helps us work like a single unit, stay connected and ultimately develop a superior product in a short timeframe.

Soorty’s production model has the flexibility to produce for high street retailers as well as high fashion brands. Our high end product coupled with cutting edge prices means companies ranging from Gstar, Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger and Rock and Republic to Inditex Group, Esprit, Tom Tailor, C&A, Mango, Dorothy Perkins and a few others all benefit from our services. We have been working with some of them for many years in order to forge the strong relationships that now exist between us. We are currently exporting around 15 million jeans and twills yearly.

3..We hear of some interesting products from Soorty for A/W13 . Can you throw some light on it ?

Soorty always brings something new to its fabric collection, something unconventional & rich in its values. Since denim is all about innovation, concepts & refined ideas in the right direction, for our Autumn Winter collection 13/14 we have decided to experiment with avant-garde weaves as well as employ the over-arching theme of sustainability.

To accommodate the large customer range, the collection is divided into groups ranging from Leather Coated, Color denim, Weft Dyed to Back side coated and some special finishes.

In today’s world Denim is just not any regular fabric and that’s why our team has crafted & engineered the products with special fibers & finishes. Yes, we have taken it to a next level by incorporating trendy fibers like Tough Max, Thermolite, Wool, Recycle, Super Soft, Elasto-Soft, Dual Fx & T400.

One of the most significant elements of the collection is that we have added a special group named (Mile Stone) which is one of the customers most loved fabrics of all time. It reflects Soorty’s true heritage, passion & devotion to Denim.

4. Your company is an integrated manufacturer – from yarn to garments .How does it help you add value for your customers?

We can proudly say that Soorty is the best example of vertically integrated manufacturer. We feel going forward the success of Denim mills will be accredited to garment manufacturing. The backward integration of Soorty is the perfect example.

Our research and development team in denim and garment division work in cordination to bring out new collection and new ideas continuously, starting from yarn to washing techniques. Having the complete setup under one umbrella is an advantage in today’s competitve world.

5.The denim industry grown very well in Pakistan over the last decade. What do you think are the reasons for the same?

Pakistan is one of the largest producer of cotton. It has the short staple courser cotton ideal for denim fabric. Besides, Pakistan was he pioneer in textile industry. During the quota free regime till 2005 Pakistan was one of the duty free countries for EU. This gave the industry more and more oppurtunity to invest and prosper. We have institutes and experience which give us an advantage over our neighbouring countries. Almost 55% of our export is textile..

6. What are the trends emerging that you see for denim fabrics , garment styling , washes etc?

The emerging trends for the future seem to reflect on an emphasis on new fibers and weaving techniques. Denim is now becoming an integral part of every wardrobe and it seems as though cleaner looks will become popular in concord with its new role as practical, every day clothing. The fabric will also have a richer feel and look which will make it more versatile and appealing for not only work wear but every other occasion too. Additionally, the washes will be focused towards greater sustainability and eco-friendliness. Styling will vary from simple to more innovative cuts which will enhance the body contours giving a slimmer silhouette.

7. Denim has undergone a massive transformation over the last two decades . In early 90s denim used to be a 14.5 oz standard product and today all kinds of fibers,dyeing techniques,weaves ,finishes etc are used . How much future scope do you think is left to take these developments further?

In the past decade science has advanced by leaps and bounds . There is so much more room for improvement. I see a lot more new development in fibre and slubs. The weaving techinques will be adjusted accordingly to having that cutting dge advantage of such versatile fabric. Making it not only sustainable but giving the comfort and stretch needed in this fast pace lifestyle.

8. We have been hearing of talks between Indian and Pakistan ministries to alter duty structures so that import of fabrics from either country into other becomes duty free. Do you think this could help the denim industry ?

This is going to be a key part in the interest of both the countries .Pakistan being a huge producer of textile and India has a hige consumer market. We see a lot of oppurtunity with the right policy in place I think both countries will have an advantage.

9. Europe is undergoing some difficult times. Do you think this will affect the consumption of denim there?

Europe is going through a correction phase which will no doubt effect the economies every where. Denim growth will be affected momentarily.The top retailer are planning to venture into new markets in BRIC which will keep the steady growth.

10. How is Soorty adding value for customers in such difficult times?

Our team thrives on new findings and loves to experiment with new discoveries and for this reason we have a monthly collection on our website which our customers have excess to and they can choose the fit or the wash look for their new season. There is a tab for accessories as well. With only a click of the button a new product is created. Soorty always delivers “value for money”. This is our policy and our customers have an advantage since they work with us. Being a vertically integrated company our customer has the best lead time to new developments and advantage over others to react to the demand and supply of today’s volatile fashion industry.

For more info on Soorty’s denim collection contact at this email address .
Check out the presentation of Men’s and Women’s Denim Collections for Fall /Winter 2013-14 below :

Pakistan had always strong textile industry due to historical reasons and an abundance of cotton . With over 380 million mtrs produced and over 150 million mtrs of denim fabrics being exported by Pakistan in 2009-10 , denim is probably the most imp segment of the Pakistani textile industry.

In a recent report  Dr Noor Ahmed Memon from Pakistan mentions that top global denim fabric exporting countries are China, followed by Hong Kong, Turkey, Italy, Pakistan, the USA, India, Japan, Spain and Brazil. Together, these countries accounted for as much as 83% of world denim fabric exports. Almost all of these countries witnessed a decline in their denim fabric exports in 2009-10. The only exception was Pakistan, whose exports rose by a remarkable 75% during the year 2009-10. On the other hand export of cotton denim fabrics from Pakistan increased from 45 million sq meters in 2005-06 to 229 million sq meters in 2009-10, thus showing an average increase of 50% per annum in terms of quantity.

What are the major markets for Pakistani denim fabrics ?

Lets see which are the major markets for Pakistani denim fabrics for the year 2009-10

Source : FBS Pakistan

Turkey is one of the major markets for denim fabric exports from Pakistan .  With about 39 million mtrs of denim fabric being exported to Turkey in 2009-10 , it is a major market  for Pakistan . However, this export is going to be severely affected with Turkey increasing duties on imports and which will be now 24.5% from 24th July 2011 . The duties on garments also would be 52% – which again will be quite prohibitive . This step by Turkey is going to further affect the denim mills in Pakistan which are already facing the brunt of worldwide fall in demand of denim fabric during the current year.

The other markets for Pakistan like Bangladesh (the most imp one) and others are expected to  keep on performing unlike Turkey. The surprising point to note is that India is becoming an important market for Pakistani denim fabrics . Though the quantities of about 2.5 million mtrs in 2009-10  is still small, it is indicative of the potential of the Indian denim market and it seems that it will become more important in the coming years.  Both the garment exporters from India as well as the local brands are becoming important in India as they are getting more aggressive and to differentiate themselves , they buy fabrics from around the world – Italy, Turkey  , Spain  etc and with Pakistan becoming an imp. source.

The challenge for mills from Pakistan would be to find destinations for denim fabrics as shipments to Turkey go down. Also, the continuously depreciating currency of Pakistan has helped in maintaining the competitiveness of the industry but it is not a factor which can be depended upon for long . Some mills in Pakistan have definitely tried to invest heavily in product development and innovation and this is probably the best way  which will keep the industry going strong in the coming years.

  Pakistan had always had a strong textile industry due to historical reasons and an  abundance of cotton fibre grown in the country . However, the denim component has been developing the fastest in the last decade – with Pakistan touching almost 350 million mtrs of denim fabric production p.a. There are many players in the denim industry of Pakistan  , but some of them like Artistic Fabric Mills/ Artistic Garment Industries  stand out due to their innovative approach  . We thought it might be a good idea to speak to the owners  of the group – Mr. Javed Ahmed  and Mr. Iqbal Ahmed-  to know more about their companies and about Pakistan Denim Industry in general.

Tell us briefly about the history of the company.

Artistic has been a pioneer in the textile industry of Pakistan. It all started in 1949 with an enterprising man and his dream to own mills one day.

In the last 60 years, with this vision the company expanded from a small retail shop to establishing many garment factories. The Artistic group has come a long way since its initiation. The 1990’s saw the first venture into the denim field. Vertical growth took new meaning and denim-weaving plants were set up. Artistic Fabric Mills (AFM) and Artistic Garment Industries (AGI) have recently expanded to become a fully vertical set up and are together one of the leading manufacturers of high fashion denim fabrics and garments in the region, offering high end customers innovative products, premium quality and efficient service.

Presently, we have doubled our Fabric capacity with the help of our new Denim Mill -AFM 2, which has a 36 Rope Indigo Dyeing Technology. We will be looking to produce 40 million meters of Premium Denim Fabric annually in addition to 12 million Garments from our garment set-up, which includes an in-house State-of-The-Art laundry.

Why did Artistic Garments choose denim as an area of growth ?

I guess you could say Denim is in our blood !

There are actually several factors that influenced us. For example raw materials; Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer in the world with an annual production of 14 million bales. This makes Textiles one of the most important industries in the country. We could have chosen other segments within this industry such as twills, home textiles etc. but we have always been very passionate about Denim. It is a fascinating product- always changing and evolving yet staying true to its core.

Every season we see something new and innovative in this field and that really excites us. The glamour associated with denim is quite attractive as well. You constantly see it featured in movies, endorsed by celebrities, on the runway and now it’s making its way into Couture. Also, the various denim tradeshows provide an opportunity to network with denim lovers from around the world, teaching you a lot about the industry and its infinite possibilities.

How do you think Artistic Fabric Mills is different from other denim mills in Pakistan?

Firstly, we are one of the oldest Denim mills in the country. However, the oldest doesn’t always mean the best. Being the best is about Innovation, dedication, investment and a true passion for denim – all of which are qualities we pride ourselves upon.

We like to think of ourselves as leaders in the Pakistan market rather than followers. The reason for this being that investing in the best technology and human resources is one of our fundamental beliefs. With a vision to serve the buyers better, we move forward with an experienced team of people and a strong orientation to latest technical know-how.

Artistic Fabric Mills continuously strive to be the best by investing in superior R&D.

We use only the finest quality dyes and liquid indigo. Our weaving department is equipped with the latest Projectile and Rapier looms. We have modern finishing and mercerizing set ups, with an added bonus of Stenter technology, through which we create premium finishes and coatings.

AFM also has foreign fabric/yarn designers and technologists on board, who have a plethora of experience in this field. They have a good pulse on the future denim market trends and accordingly develop a collection with new colors and warps every season. In addition to this, we have an office in Los Angeles, California to keep up with the latest Denim Trends originating from the West Coast (the home of Premium Denim Jeans in the US). On the European side, our organization has a showroom in Stockholm, Sweden with a denim guru there to develop a broader and more versatile range of fashion concepts.

There is a famous quote: “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you keep standing there”. Therefore, we are always trying to innovate and improve ourselves. Our team has set high production quality standards and works hard to sustain them.

All in all it’s our integral values that make us different. We have a loyal and sincere approach to our product and the customer. With us its about multiplying value, we believe in giving more value to our customers in return for their business.

What are your other denim fabric styles, which are your best sellers ?

We at Artistic Fabrics and Garments have a great relationship with Invista and our vintage stretch collection using their LYCRA® fiber always gets a great response from buyers.

As far as our recent best sellers are concerned- For Womens The new Super stretch with soft hand feel and Jeggings have been quite popular recently.

For Men’s Rigid, 100% cotton based subtle cross hatch constructions, heavier weights with Left Hand Twills and softer feels is one of our best selling category. Most popular are the black bottoming, pure indigo and green indigo shades. The coated and over dyed denim range is always a top favorite for designers.

Coated denim seems to be getting popular. Do you also feel so ?

Definitely. We have been very innovative in exploring different coating technologies and chemicals.

Coating is the next big thing because of the high and lows one can achieve and the multiple washes that are possible. It adds a whole new dimension to the normal denim fabric and what wash experts can do with it. We see the trend growing with raw coated finishes and vintage looks.

Artistic Fabric Mills will be launching the New collection of our coated fabrics at the Hong Kong edition of the Kingpins show in November.

You also have a large garment division. Is denim the main product there?

Actually, Denim is the only product at Artistic Garment Industries. 100 % of the garments are stitched using Denim fabrics. Primarily, we manufacture denim jeans and cater to all types of bottoms: Straight leg, boot cut, skinny etc. Apart from jeans, we also produce denim jackets.

The output capacity is about 1,000,000 garments per month, which covers many different age groups from Toddlers to Adults. The production at AGI has been enhanced by our state of the art laundry facility, which was established in early 2007. This modern plant is equipped with the latest Italian washing machines and can be compared with any of the world’s top laundries.

Which are your main markets? Would you like to share names of some of your main buyers with us?

Roughly half of our exports go to the US market. The other half goes to the European market. Many of the Middle to Upper Tier Fashion Brands are our main buyers.

What new trends do you observe emerging in the denim jeans silhouettes?

Men’s silhouettes have remained fairly constant over the past couple of seasons. We’re used to seeing the usual straight leg or boot cut styles. Comfort Stretch seems to be getting more popular for men.

On the other hand, the women’s collection has been tailored by major changes in fashion trends. While the boyfriend and skinny fits remain popular, leggings/jeggings are taking the markets by storm. We think the tapered/skinny boy friend along with skinny cargoes will be big soon. However, the women’s market changes more quickly so in the near future, the market will want something new.

Pakistan denim industry is getting bigger. Can you tell us something about its size, growth etc ?

It is getting bigger indeed. This means more competition for us. However, we enjoy the challenge.

Presently there are about 15-20 denim mills in Pakistan, and about 35-40 companies involved in denim fabric or denim garment production.

The Monthly Production is about 30 million meters of finished Denim Fabric.

Direct Employment of 18,000 People in industry. A major part is employment on contractual basis.

The Textile sector contributes to a 60% share in the exports of the country.

Presently in Pakistan, Denim Production is on top in Textile Sector due to Export & Garments Industry. Export of denim has shown a 27% increase per annum in the Dollar value since 2005.

Denim is now one of the key apparel sectors and the driving force behind the apparel exports of the country. Total apparel exports from Pakistan were approx US$ 1.23 Billion in 2008-09. This sector still has potential for further growth.

(Statistics taken from the Pakistan Textile Journal).

How does Pakistan compete with countries like Bangladesh and China for denim exports?

As compared to Bangladesh, we have an advantage of having an abundance of cotton and greater experience in this field. Bangladesh is catching up fast and with their advantage of cheaper labor we often compete fiercely with them on price. Pakistan has an edge due to the availability of the Basic Raw Material though and having the Yarn locally produced. The AGI/ AFM nexus has the added benefit of a Strong Spinning Mill being part of our vertical set up. Pakistan has also benefited from a more favorable exchange rate for export in recent times.

China has historically been a strong competitor but lately we feel we have come to par with them as the number of local trained Professionals and Technicians for the Denim field increases in Pakistan. We strive to continuously improve and enhance ourselves to rise above the competition from this region.

The recent floods in Pakistan have caused a lot of devastation. Do you think the floods will affect the denim industry or the textile industry as a whole ?

The recent floods really have been quite catastrophic. However, fortunately for the Textile Industry the flood waters did not affect any of the major urban cities. The main impact has been through the damaged cotton crop. There is some speculation that around 2-3 million bales might have been affected.

Luckily in some areas that have not been hit by the floods, the rain has actually benefited cotton and this year Pakistan was expecting a bumper crop as some farmers had opted for cotton instead of rice and sugarcane so despite the damage, the total crop might equal last years amount. Furthermore, Pakistan will gain from the fact that next-door neighbor India has lifted the restriction on Cotton Exports and therefore, will import a fairly large quantity from across the border. So overall the rates should be at par with New York Cotton Exchange. We feel the Pakistani Textile Industry is quite resilient and will not be so severely impacted by the floods.

How is Pakistan denim industry dealing with the environmental issues like waste water disposal etc ?

One of AFM/AGI’s main goals aside from quality service and on time delivery to its customers is to be environmentally friendly and adhere to social compliances. Therefore over 4000 employees at AGI are enjoying all the social benefits, as we are compliant approved by all our customers. In the past we have been approved by ISO and we established a state of the art Waste Water treatment Plant (WWTP) in 2007 with the help of an Italian company ,

What is your forecast for the demand growth in the next 2 years ?

We predict that the next 2 years are going to be challenging but rewarding at the same time. Denim is a lifestyle and that culture will never cease so we hope it will grow bigger and better.

There is usually a lot of movement in denim and currently we see a definite shift towards the Pakistani market. With our new mill coming up we are definitely looking forward to the near future as we constantly endeavor to upgrade ourselves with revolutionary ideas and adapt to the fast changes in trend.

Note : The denim imports shown above are covered under the HS code 520942.

The following trends can be noticed(which were there even in the figures for exports of denim from India) :
a)Year 2002 was the best year in terms of quanities exported and the average prices.
b)Year 2003 shows a steep fall in the prices .
c)Year 2006 shows slight improvement in prices over 2005 . However, the volumes are continuously falling – showing that the market for the fabrics in EU is DYING.

A total volume of about 43 million mtrs over a period of 6 years? Not a very big volume I believe..