Apparel exports from France grew 3.4 percent year-on-year in 2012, the third consecutive rise since 2010, according to French business daily Les Echos.

French garment exports to the US surged by 28 percent year-on-year, while those to Hong Kong and Japan rose by 39.6 percent year-on-year and 17.6 percent year-on-year, respectively.

However, French clothing exports to European countries declined during the year, due to economic slump in the region. French ready-to-wear garment exports to Italy declined by about 13 percent during the 12-month period.

Meanwhile, overall French apparel imports registered a decline of 3.3 percent year-on-year last year. China continued to remain as the top womenswear supplier to France, ahead of Italy.

While Italy’s womenswear exports to France dipped 0.4 percent year-on-year, exports from Bangladesh and Romania increased during the year.

The data also showed that domestic womenswear sales in France decreased by 2.8 percent in 2012, posting a fifth consecutive decline.