Denim fabric: global trade and leading players, May-June 2007

24 pages, published in Issue 129, May-June 2007   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The continuing appeal of denim apparel, especially jeans, has ensured that the demand for denim fabric remains robust. In turn, robust demand has resulted in sizeable trade flows in denim fabric across markets. In 2005 world denim fabric exports totalled US$4.3 bn, and between 2001 and 2005 the value of global denim fabric exports grew at an average annual rate of 5.0%.

The top ten exporting countries in 2005 were China, Hong Kong, the USA, Italy, Turkey, Japan, India, Brazil, Spain and Pakistan. Together, these countries accounted for as much as 83% of world denim fabric exports. The major denim fabric importing countries during the same year were Mexico, Hong Kong, Turkey, Tunisia, Italy, the USA, China, Morocco and Colombia.

Chinese denim fabric exporters, as well as achieving the greatest success in penetrating overseas markets, have also achieved rapid growth. Between 2001 and 2005 their sales to foreign markets rose by an average of 18% a year?which was almost four times the growth rate for global exports of denim fabric as a whole.

The US denim fabric industry, which at one time dominated world production, has been witnessing a continuing decline in sales and profitability for a number of years. This is largely because of competition from low cost countries as well as falling domestic demand. Two US companies used to hold leading positions in the global denim fabric industry, namely Cone Mills (now known as Cone Denim) and Swift Galey. However, faced with growing competition from foreign manufacturers, higher production costs within the USA and shrinking internal demand for their products, US denim fabric companies have been facing severe financial problems which have forced them to cut output or close their US-based production facilities. Instead, as a survival measure, they have set up manufacturing joint ventures and relocated their operations to low cost locations where denim fabric can be produced at more competitive costs.

Denim Fabric: Global Trade and Leading Players

• Summary
• Denim?s Growing Popularity
• Global Trade in Denim Fabric
• Exports of Denim Fabric by Leading Exporting Countries
• Imports of Denim Fabric by Leading Importing Countries
• Internationalisation of the US Denim Fabric Industry
• Decline in the Competitiveness of the Denim Fabric Industry in the EU
• Profiles of 12 Denim Producers Outside North America

Buy this Report now	Buy this Issue (129) now	Subscribe

• Profile of Raymond: Growth Through Foreign Collaboration and Vertical Integration, (May-June 2007)
• Trends and Innovations in the Denim Industry , (January-February 2006)
• Survey of the European Yarn and Fabric Fairs for Autumn/Winter 2006/07, (November-December 2005)
• Profile of Tavex Algodonera, (March-April 2004 )

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.