Prospects for the Textile and Garment Industry in the Philippines

32 pages, published in Issue 125, September-October 2006   Report price: Euro 600.00; US$ 785.00

The textile and garment sector in the Philippines is a vital part of the country?s economy. It has 320,000 employees, making it the largest employer in the manufacturing sector with 11% of the national total.

An additional 700,000 people are employed as home-workers and small sub-contractors.

The industry expanded rapidly during the 1960s and 1970s but has recently experienced a decline. This has been due mainly to tougher conditions in export markets and a failure to invest in new manufacturing technology.

Exports have been a key driver of growth in the past. The country used to be one of the largest sources of imported garments for the major markets of North America and Western Europe when exports from its major competitors were held back by quotas. However, the arrival of a new world trade regime at the beginning of 2005 has caused serious damage to the country?s international competitiveness. As a result, China and other Asian countries are capturing an increasing share of these markets. Even so, in 2005 the textile and garment sector was the Philippines? second largest source of export earnings with a 6.2% share, although this was down sharply from 10% in 1997.

There is an urgent need for the industry to restructure into larger manufacturing units, and to re-equip itself with modern high-tech machinery in order to secure greater economies of scale, higher productivity and an improvement in its competitiveness. On an encouraging note, there has been a substantial increase in foreign investment in the past five years. Much of this has come from other Asian producers who, more and more, are regarding the Philippines as an attractive location for textile and garment activities. Research and investment is also going into the development of indigenous fibres?such as abaca, banana, pineapple and silk?in order to ease the country?s serious lack of locally sourced raw materials.

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• Trends in US textile and clothing imports, March-April 2007, (March-April 2007)
• Prospects for the Textile and Apparel Industry in Malaysia, (November-December 2006)
• World textile and apparel trade and production trends, September-October 2006, (September-October 2006)
• Prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Indonesia, May-June 2006, (May-June 2006)
• Outlook for Asian Textile and Clothing Trade in the Post-Quota Era, (November-December 2005)
• Prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Thailand, May-June 2005, (May-June 2005)
• Profiles of Three Leading Hong Kong Textile and Clothing Companies: Ace Style, Crystal Group and Pacific Textiles, (November-December 2004)
• Profiles of Three Leading Singapore Clothing Companies: Ocean Sky, Sing Lun, and Unistar Goo-Way Sourcing, (May-June 2004)
• Profiles of Five Malaysian Textile and Apparel Producers, (January 2003)
• Profile of Dogi: A World Leader in Stretch Knitted Fabrics, (September 2002)

Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries ? and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues.
Reports in Textile Outlook International include:
	country profiles ? providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future.
	company profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations.
	trends in world textile and apparel trade and production ? taking into account current issues facing the industry ? such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more.
	trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing ? providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories.
	innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets.
So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing ? in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
Textile Outlook International is available on subscription ? either in printed format only, or in printed and electronic format. If you choose the printed only option, you will receive 6 printed publications a year, containing a total of 30 reports plus editorials written by Robin Anson, our editorial director and in-house industry expert.
Electronic supplement If you choose the printed and electronic option, you will receive an extra service. You will still receive each issue in printed format, delivered to you by traditional post. In addition, you will be able to download PDF files containing the same information ? but the PDF files will be available immediately on publication, so you don?t have to wait for the printing and mailing. You also have all the benefits of electronic files: instant access even when you are away from the office; convenient storage in your PC or laptop; portability; electronic search facility; and copy/paste facility.