Abstract
US textile output fell for a tenth year in 2007, to its lowest level in over
35 years. Clothing output plunged by 40% in volume. Employment was also down -
by 9.2% in textiles and 8.3% in clothing. But the average price of garments
produced in the USA rose by 25% as output was geared increasingly to high-end
niche markets. Import volume growth slowed as consumer spending on clothing
and footwear rose by only 3.7% after rising by 4.5% in 2006 and 5.1% in 2005.
Meanwhile, China increased its textile and clothing sales to the USA by 14.8%
in volume and 19.4% in value, despite quota restrictions on a range of
products. Vietnam stepped up its supplies to the USA by 31.2% in volume and
34.2% in value in 2007.
In Argentina the textile sector expanded its output by a moderate 5.5% while
clothing rose by only 0.6%. But export growth was a buoyant 18.2% in textiles
and 13.2% in clothing. Brazil' s exports rebounded after an unexpected setback
in 2006. But the increase was due entirely to a rise in textiles, and to
strong growth in sales to Indonesia, Pakistan, Mexico, Venezuela and South
Korea. Sales to the USA and the EU, meanwhile, were poor. Colombia' s exports
grew for a fourth year and surged by 47%. But sales to the USA fell, enabling
Venezuela to become the largest export market with a 55% share. Mexico
continued to struggle as US importers shifted orders to China and other low
cost Asian countries.
EU output stabilised in 2007, despite a drop in exports and an increase in
imports. EU imports from China rose by 14.3% to Euro27.5 bn. At this level
they accounted for as much as 34.3% of the EU import market, leaving Turkey a
distant second with 16.0%.
The industry in China progressed in 2007 despite quota restrictions on its
exports to the USA and the EU. Output and investment expanded as exports rose
by over 19%. In Hong Kong domestic exports fell as production was shifted to
mainland China. Outward processing arrangements (OPAs) in Hong Kong are also
likely to lose their relevance once safeguard quotas are eliminated in the USA
at the end of 2008. In Japan there was a 5.3% upturn in export demand in 2007
as a result of higher sales to the USA, the EU, South Korea and Vietnam. As
for imports, 83.9% of the Japanese clothing import market in 2007 was supplied
by China alone. In South Korea, exports regained some ground in 2007 thanks to
an increase in textile sales. In Taiwan, clothing exports fell and so did
clothing output. But textile production was up.
View Cart
