World textile and apparel trade and production trends, September-October 2001

The global man-made fibre industry continued to strengthen in 2000. Output rose by 6.2% after growing by 4.1% in 1999. Natural fibres continued to lose market share as cotton output rose by a mere 0.9% and wool production fell ? despite a recovery in wool prices.

US apparel output fell by 6.3% in the first eight months of 2001 while textile output plunged by 13%. Exports have been hit by the dollar?s strength, and consumer confidence has evaporated as the US economy has weakened. One bright spot is that import growth has slowed dramatically. In the EU, textile output recovered in 2000 as the weak euro boosted exports?especially to the USA and Russia. But imports surged as Asian countries made further inroads. Given the slowdown in the USA, the EU?s biggest market, the outlook is less rosy.

In Japan, output continues to contract. Exports have made few gains, in spite of the weaker yen, and Japanese consumers remain cautious. Meanwhile, imports continue to grow?especially from China, which now supplies 78% of Japan?s clothing imports. In China the slowdown of the global economy has begun to limit Chinese export growth, especially in South East Asian markets. But domestic demand remains healthy. Domestic demand is also helping to buoy output in Hong Kong although export sales are harder to achieve. In South Korea the recovery has reversed as output and exports have slumped. In Taiwan, too, domestic demand is sluggish, and exports and output are down. Falling exports are also affecting Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Indonesian apparel exports remain strong but growth is threatened by political and economic problems. India is also suffering as export orders are cut back. Pakistani exporters are suffering from falling unit values and losses in the industry are growing. The picture is similar in Sri Lanka following booming exports in 2000. Bangladeshi exporters also complain of slower export growth. But relative to its competitors, the country is doing well.

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