Thailand's textile exports rise 10.49% in Jan-Aug'13

08 Oct '13

1 min read

The exports of textiles, excluding apparel, from the Southeast Asian country of Thailand increased by 10.49 percent year-on-year to US$ 3.149 billion during the first eight months of the current year, according to the data from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Thai News Agency reported.

However, the exports of apparel declined by 4.15 percent during the same period to US$ 1.957 billion.

Somsak Srisupornwanit, chairman of the Textile Industry Club of the FTI, attributed the decline in apparel exports to shifting of some garment units to the neighbouring countries like Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam to benefit from lower labour costs in those countries.

The relocation of apparel units to other countries in the Asean region will further benefit once the Asean Economic Community (AEC) comes into effect in 2015, Mr. Somsak said.

He suggested that the Government should increase its support to textiles research, and added that the Board of Investment (BOI) should strive to attract investment in high-tech textile factories in Thailand.

In 2012, Thailand’s textile exports dipped by 13.68 percent year-on-year to US$ 4.27 billion, while apparel exports fell by 9.95 percent year-on-year to US$ 2.95 billion.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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