Research and Markets: Prospects for the Textile and Clothing Industry in Colombia.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- In 2003 Textiles and Clothing Represented the Colombia's Fourth Largest Export Earner

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com) has announced the addition of Prospects for the Textile and Clothing Industry in Colombia to their offering.

In 2003 Colombia's textile and clothing exports to the USA, the industry's most important trading partner, were 51% higher than those recorded in the previous year. This increase can single-handedly be attributed to an extension of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) in October 2002, which provided Colombian textile and clothing exports with quota-free and duty-free access to the USA.

This strong performance has pushed the textile and clothing industry into a prominent position in Colombia's economy. Indeed, in 2003 textiles and clothing represented the country's fourth largest export earner--ahead of one of Colombia's most famous exports, coffee. The main contributors to the growth in textile and clothing exports have been Colombia's low labour costs, its proximity to the US market, and the industry's verticalised structure--from fibres to finished garments.

However, the industry is now at a crossroads. Clothing manufacturers are not able to make full use of the ATPDEA as they are being held back by a shortage of locally produced fabrics. Government initiatives to encourage new investors are stifled by concerns over ongoing internal civil strife. The industry is heavily dependent on US customers, but is vulnerable to competition from Asian clothing suppliers who will gain access to the US market free of quota restrictions in 2005. Furthermore, the ATPDEA is due to end in 2006, and a new free trade agreement with the USA has yet to be negotiated.

Report Contents:

--Summary

--Geographical, political and economic profile

Geographical location

Population

Economic profile

--Infrastructure

--Importance of the textile and clothing industry to the Colombian economy

--Development of the textile and clothing industry in Colombia

--Location, employment, ownership and investment in the textile and clothing industry in Colombia

Location

Employment

Ownership

Investment incentives

Machinery and capital investments

--Structure of the textile and clothing industry in Colombia

Fibres

Textiles

Clothing

Exports

--Main trading partners

Textile exports

Clothing exports

Imports

Colombian imports from the USA

Other leading suppliers of Colombian imports

--Trade agreements

Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act

Outlook

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

--Support organisations and initiatives

List of tables

Table 1: Colombia: economic indicators, 1999-2002

Table 2: Colombia: population and economic indicators, 2002

Table 3: Colombia: main export sectors, 2000-03

Table 4: Colombia: foreign direct investment in textiles and clothing by source country, 2002

Table 5: Colombia: textile sales by company, 2001

Table 6: Colombia: clothing sales by company, 2001

Table 7: Colombia: textile and clothing exports, 1996-2003

Table 8: Colombia: textile exports by country, 2000-03

Table 9: Colombia: selected textile exports by value, 2000-03

Table 10: Colombia: textile exports by volume, 2000-03

Table 11: Colombia: clothing exports by country, 2000-03

Table 12: Colombia: selected clothing exports by value, 2000-03

Table 13: Colombia: clothing exports by volume, 2000-03

Table 14: Colombia: textile imports by country and region, 1999-2002

Table 15: Colombia: textile and clothing exports to the EU, 1999-2002

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c4647