Pakistan's share in global apparel trade declines

07 Jul '12

2 min read

The share of Pakistan’s garment sector in global market has declined by 10 percent in the fiscal year 2011-12 that ended on June 30, 2012.

As per the latest data, Pakistan exported apparels worth US$ 9.24 billion in fiscal year 2011-12, a decrease of US$ 1.26 billion compared to exports worth US$ 10.5 billion made in fiscal year 2010-11.

The decline in Pakistan’s clothing exports is attributed to increasing cost of production and the ongoing power and gas load shedding.

At present, the global textile output is increasing at 30 percent year-on-year, and it is expected to rise at 50 percent year-on-year from 2014 onwards.

Pakistan’s value-added textile exports have diminished by 9.8 percent during February-May 2012, whereas textile exports from India, Bangladesh and China have inched up by 23.87 percent, 7.86 percent and 2.05 percent, respectively, during the same period.

The textile sector in Pakistan accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s total exports, and provides employment to 42 percent of people.

Currently, China has around 45 percent of share in global apparel trade. However, the rising costs of production and wages in China is creating conditions for shift in apparel production to other low-cost manufacturing countries.

India has around 20 percent share in international garment trade. Countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam have twin advantages of low-cost labour and low production costs and hence, these countries are significantly investing in expanding their textile and apparel manufacturing capacity.

Egypt and Turkey are also increasing their share in global apparel market. Egypt is working to evolve a new policy that lays emphasis on the textile sector, while Turkey is rapidly growing as an important supplier of clothing items in the European region.

Bangladesh needs a special mention, as the country’s textile and apparel exports account for seventy six percent of the country’s total export earnings.

Among the emerging markets, Brazil and Turkey are currently most preferred for investment in the apparel sector.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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