Dominican Republic's clothing exports touch $1.2bn in 2012

20 Jun '13

1 min read

The exports of clothing and textiles from various export processing zones (EPZs) in Dominican Republic amounted to US$ 1.278 billion, according to the statistics released by the National Free Zones Council (CNZFE).

As per the data, the garment and textiles sector accounted for 25.6 percent of the total US$ 4.987 billion exports made by the second-largest Caribbean nation, last year, Dominican newspaper Listin Diario reported.

CNZFE executive director Luisa Fernandez said export prospects for 2013 are brighter.

Earlier this year, the Dominican Ministry of Labour and the Asociacion De Textileros Dominicanos (ASOTEDOM or Dominican Textile Association) signed an agreement for creation of 5,000 jobs in the country’s textile sector.

ASOTEDOM currently comprises of 80 textile and clothing manufacturing companies, mostly in the small and medium sector, spread across the Dominican Republic.

According to 'Major Shippers Report- U.S. General Imports' published by Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) of the US Department of Commerce, Dominican Republic’s textile and apparel exports to the US increased by 6.48 percent from US$ 184.9 million to US$ 196.9 million during January-April period of 2013.

Among the member nations of CAFTA-DR (Central America Free Trade Agreement-Dominican Republic), Dominican Republic exports the maximum amount of textiles and apparels to the US.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India