Research and Markets: World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends 2004: US Domestic Clothing Sales Picked up Mid-2003.

Business Editors

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2004

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com) has announced the addition of World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends 2004 to their offering.

US domestic clothing sales picked up in mid-2003. Textile exports rose 2.9% in January-July 2003 but clothing fell 6.2%. US imports surged, especially from China and Vietnam. By August 2003 textile output was down 9.8% and clothing 13.3%.

Several big players have filed for bankruptcy.

In Brazil output was boosted by recovery in the Argentinean market. Argentinean clothing exports also bounced back while Colombia benefited from special US access under ATPDEA. But Mexico struggled as competition rose from Asian and CBI suppliers.

The EU textile and clothing deficit fell in 2002 for the first time in six years as the textile surplus rose by 14% and clothing import growth slowed markedly--despite a 17% surge in imports from Turkey. But textile output fell by 5.2% and clothing output by 12.1%.

In Eastern Europe, EU membership and the end of quota protection in 2005 are causing concern as production in many countries becomes too costly and cheap Asian imports grow. But Russian output is set to expand significantly under the country's light industry development plan.

In South Africa the stronger rand has made producers less competitive.

But trade agreements with the EU and other countries in the region have opened up export markets and boosted production. Japan's industry shrank in the first half of 2003 as domestic demand remained weak and exports of most items fell in volume, although values picked up.

In China export growth remained strong but price falls put margins under pressure. Output rose in all the main sectors, leading to pressure on raw material supplies. In Hong Kong only re-exports were strong. Local firms are pinning their hopes on the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with China. In South Korea falling exports and domestic demand hit output in three main sectors. Exports also fell from Taiwan. In Thailand output was boosted by rising exports, especially to China, but Indonesia was hit by rises in costs and in the rupiah. Malaysian clothing did well and Vietnamese exports to the USA soared.

India's export recovery failed to raise output but Pakistan's exports of cotton fabric, towels and garments have soared as a result of trade concessions. New "garment cities" will focus on higher value clothing.

In Sri Lanka fast export growth-boosted output but sales to the USA and EU were weak. Slow growth in EU and US markets also hit exports from Bangladesh.

Report Contents:

List of tables

Table 1: USA: leading suppliers of textile and apparel imports, 1999-2003

Table 2: EU15: trade balances in fibres, textiles and clothing, 1995-2002

Table 3: EU15: shares of textile and clothing trade by region and country grouping, 2002

Table 4: EU15: exports of textiles to the ten leading markets, 2002

Table 5: EU15: imports of textiles from the ten leading suppliers, 2002

Table 6: EU15: shares of the leading five suppliers in the textile imports of each member state, 1990-2002

Table 7: EU15: exports of clothing to the ten leading markets, 2002

Table 8: EU15: imports of clothing from the ten leading suppliers, 2002

Table 9: EU15: shares of the leading five suppliers in the clothing imports of each member state, 1990-2002

Table 10: EU, USA and Japan: textile and clothing industry production indices, 1990-2002

Table 11: Trends in exchange rates, selected Asian countries, 1995-2003

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