World textile and apparel trade and production trends, September-October 2006

71 pages, published in Issue 125, September-October 2006   Report price: Euro 785.00; US$ 1030.00

US clothing demand continues to grow. Sales through clothing, accessory stores, warehouse clubs and superstores were especially buoyant in the first nine months of 2006. US producers benefited as clothing output rose by 4.6% in the first ten months while the imposition of quotas against China slowed import growth. But imports of cotton bed linen from India, Pakistan and Brazil surged.

The EU trade deficit worsened in 2005 after the global elimination of quotas at the end of 2004. But the industry?s prospects looked brighter in early 2006 as output stopped falling and orders picked up. Exporters are achieving success in East European markets such as Russia and Ukraine, and the surge in imports from China has slowed since quotas were imposed in mid-2005. Meanwhile, EU firms are investing in higher value interior textiles and technical textiles in the EU while continuing to relocate lower value textile and clothing production to Asia and Eastern Europe.

Chinese exports surged in the first seven months of 2006 as exporters looked to alternative markets such as Turkey, Mexico, Macau and South Korea in order to maintain growth in the face of US and EU quotas. Output and foreign direct investment continued to grow strongly. China?s clothing import market also expanded?by 24.0% in the first seven months of 2006?reflecting the re-emergence of coproduction schemes in Hong Kong and Macau to avoid quotas against Chinese goods.

Indonesian clothing exports expanded at a healthy pace in January-May 2006 thanks to strong demand in the USA. Foreign direct investment also rebounded, although overcapacity remains a danger. Indonesia?s vertical industry and commitment to labour rights and customer service bode well for the future. Malaysian exporters are trying to gain an edge over cheaper competitors by focusing on branding, quality, reliability, labour rights and superior customer service. Clothing exports from the Philippines have done well in the USA and the EU. Thai garment makers have enjoyed a resurgence in 2006 and hope that a trade deal will boost exports to Japan. But high costs are forcing firms to invest in China, Cambodia and Vietnam. Vietnamese exports to the USA soared in the first half of 2006 in anticipation of quota elimination when Vietnam joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Bangladesh has performed well in the post-quota era, despite fears of competition from China and India. In 2006 it has raised its share of the US market and sales to the EU market, helped by duty-free access, have soared. But low wages have caused labour riots. India?s textile and clothing export sector has grown substantially since the elimination of quotas in the EU and US markets. Government help with modernisation and the provision of textile and apparel parks should improve competitiveness. Pakistan is also enjoying brisk growth, despite Chinese and Indian competition, and sales to the EU picked up in 2006. In Sri Lanka growth was more modest and the country relies heavily on raw material imports. A new campaign will publicise Sri Lanka?s compliance with ethical labour standards.

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• Trends in US textile and clothing imports, March-April 2007, (March-April 2007)
• Trends in EU textile and clothing imports, July-August 2006, (July-August 2006)

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.
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