Newsletter: February 2003

Winners vs Losers

SRI LANKA : Textile, Garment Exports Up 17% In Oct. 2002

Sri Lanka's textile and garment sector enjoyed a 17% year-on-year rise in exports in October, 2002. The rise was the combined effect of a 14% increase in volume and a 2% increase in unit prices.

Clothing and textiles are the island's largest export income earner and helped the country record flat export earnings of $408 million for the month.

VIETNAM : Clothing, Textile Exports Jump 36% In 2002

Vietnam's textile and garment exports soared 36% this year due to surging US orders. The quota-free status has attracted a large number of American buyers to Vietnam. Textile and clothing shipments to the US rocketed to $900 million this year from $47m in 2001. The industry is on course to hit the $2.6bn mark by the end of this year.

Nevertheless, textile and garment exports to the EU and Japan fell by 10 and 20%, respectively, amid fierce competition from rival producers in China

PORTUGAL : Nine Month Textile Exports Total $3.7bn

Portuguese textile and clothing exports fell 4.8%  to $3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2002 compared to the year-ago period. Data from the Portuguese Centre for Applied Textile Studies also showed imports of knitwear for the January to September period climbed 7.4% year-on-year while imports of other apparel rose 16.4% year-on-year.

CHINA : Textile Industry Enjoys Strong 2002

China's textile industry is expected to have generated a combined output value of $121 billion in 2002, up 15% on the previous year.  The industry's profit up 23% year-on-year and exports of more than $60bn. The increases is attributed to China's entry into the World Trade Organisation.

THE PHILIPPINES : Garment Exports Fall 6% To $2.8bn

Garment exports from the Philippines fall 6% year-on-year to $2.8 billion in 2002. The Confederation of Garments Exporters of the Philippines (Congep), says exporters may shift their focus from the US and European markets to southeast Asia, where there are around 3.7 billion consumers.

TURKEY : Export Rise

Apparel exports from Turkey climbed 23%  year-on-year in 2002 to $9.2 billion. Figures compiled by the Association of Turkish Clothing Industrialists showed 2002 textile exports rose 4%  to $2.9bn from the year-ago period.

TAIWAN Textile Exports Fall To $12bn In 2002

Taiwan's textile exporters had a miserable 2002 with overseas orders down 3.8% year-on-year to $12.1 billion. Industry chiefs attributed the fall to fierce competition after its entry into the World Trade Organisation, first half currency fluctuations and the US West Coast dock strike which hampered its performance in the second half. 

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