cover image: INDUSTRY STUDY - Clothing and Textiles International Trends - May 2024

INDUSTRY STUDY - Clothing and Textiles International Trends - May 2024

26 Jun 2024

The significance of the clothing and textiles industries is recognised by the South African government in the support lent to the industry because of its well- established and labour-intensive nature. [...] UNIT PRICES OF SOUTH AFRICAN EXPORTS OF CLOTHING AND TEXTILES Graph 5 shows the percentage changes in unit price of textiles and clothing from 2011 to 2022. [...] FOREIGN INVESTMENT INTO SOUTH AFRICA’S CLOTHING AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES Foreign direct investment in the South African clothing and textiles industries dates back to apartheid when Chinese and Taiwanese clothing and textile manufacturers were authorised to set up clothing and textile factories on the outskirts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape in the former homelands. [...] SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION South Africa’s clothing and textile industries have experienced ebbs and flows in supply and demand over the years, with notable drops in production, consumption and trade experienced in both industries particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] In conclusion, for the clothing and textile industries to be competitive, in the face of increasing competition from cheap imports and countries that benefit from economies of scale and well- established value chains, South Africa needs to mitigate the threats posed by global clothing and textiles manufacturing powerhouses and seize opportunities available in the regional market.

Authors

Rethabile Molala

Pages
13
Published in
South Africa

Table of Contents