World textile and apparel trade and production trends: the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico

摘要

US consumer expenditure on clothing and footwear continued to increase during 2014 but at a slower pace than it did during 2010-13. There were also increases in US textile and clothing imports in 2013 and during January-October 2014 in value and volume terms, as well as increases in exports. Clothing production rose in 2013 and during January-November 2014. But the rise in 2013 came after three consecutive years of decline. Also, textile production rose only marginally during January-November 2014 after falling in 2013. Employment, meanwhile, was down in November 2014 compared with November 2013. In Argentina, textile and clothing exports were up during January-September 2014, after falling in 2012 and 2013, while imports were down-having also declined in 2012 and 2013. The falls in imports in 2012, 2013 and January-September 2014 were due to the imposition of import restrictions. Textile production was up during January-October 2014 following a small decline in 2013 and a rise in 2012. Retail sales, meanwhile, continued to surge during January-September 2014, partly as a result of substantial inflationary pressures. Brazilian textile and clothing exports plunged by 30.1% in 2013, due largely to a sharp decline in exports of uncarded and combed cotton. During January-November 2014 there was a partial recovery as textile and clothing exports rose by 3.5%. However, textile and clothing production declined during January-October 2014 after falling in 2013. In Colombia, textile and clothing exports fell in 2013 and were also down during January-July 2014. The fall in 2013 was due almost entirely to a plunge in exports to Venezuela. The decline during January-July 2014, on the other hand, reflected falls in exports to almost all markets. Domestic production of textiles was down during January-September 2014 after falling significantly in 2012 and 2013. But clothing production was up. In Mexico, textile and clothing exports rose by 2.5% in 2013. The rise reflected increases in exports to a number of markets, including Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Nicaragua, Panama, Thailand and the USA. However, there were sharp declines in exports to China, Colombia and Guatemala. Clothing production rose in 2013 and during January-October 2014, but textile production fell.