There are many countries with significant clothing exports, but a few stand out above the rest. We’ll be looking at China, Bangladesh, and Mexico in this article. Each has a strong clothing manufacturing industry and are among the largest exporters in the world.
China
While China is the largest clothing exporter in the world, other countries are starting to cut into its market share. China’s low labor costs make it difficult to compete with other countries. While US and European companies pay higher wages, garment workers in developing countries are subject to more labor violations. Additionally, European countries have the best environmental protection.
China is the world’s largest clothing exporter. It also has a large textile sector that plays a significant role in national economies. China has the largest textile fiber processing capacity in all of the world. China also has an integrated industrial chain that makes textile products competitive for exports. Comparatively, developed countries’ textile industries have access to more capital, research, and development, and mature marketing channels.
Despite China being the largest clothing exporter in the world, its value has declined in recent years as more production is devoted to domestic consumption. This has caused manufacturers to shift away from simple garments to more high-tech garments that require retooling and skilled labor. However, export values will likely rise in the coming years as overall production increases, and domestic manufacturers to move up the value chain.
China has been making strides towards becoming a higher-end clothing exporter. China’s technological advancements and skilled labor have allowed it to move up the value chain. It can now produce high-end technical garments using advanced fabrics and techniques. Additionally, the investment in infrastructure and supply chains in China has provided an excellent foundation for manufacturers. Exports are also dependent on the country’s logistics infrastructure, which allows for timely and efficient delivery.
Indonesia
The history of the Indonesian apparel industry is long. Today, Indonesia is the third largest exporter of clothing in the world, producing about 6.5 percent of US apparel. Since the 1980s, Indonesia has ranked among the top ten apparel exporters. In 2000, its apparel exports accounted for around 2.5 percent of world production. But the situation is not so rosy.
Despite the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, Indonesia’s textile industry saw positive growth throughout the year. Exports were up 11.8 percent in 2019, and its total export value topped US$13.8 billion. However, trade war with China and COVID-19 have affected Indonesia’s textile industry. Vietnam was also affected by the COVID-19 and trade war, but still exported textiles worth US$35 billion in 2019.
With the growing demand for clothing, Indonesia is looking to diversify its textile and garment industry. Textile exports from Indonesia accounted for US$13.8 billion in 2019. The country’s textile industry still has a lot of work to do before it can reach its full export potential. It faces several challenges, but it is committed to making strides in overcoming these obstacles.
The garment industry in Indonesia is one of the fastest-growing sectors. It has high factory output and is consistently performing economically. However, the Chinese influx of cheap goods is putting pressure upon smaller domestic manufacturers. The quality of its products means that the Indonesian garment industry is still a strong exporter of apparel.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the world’s third-largest clothing exporter, behind only China and the European Union. The country’s garment sector employs more than four million people, and it generates ten per cent of its total GDP. Yet, it is facing an ongoing crisis, and its government is resorting to productivity-killing power cuts to prop up the industry. These power cuts are linked with a wider regional energy crisis, which is exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The clothing export industry is still booming in Bangladesh, but it is facing challenges from declining global demand and an energy crisis that could undermine its pandemic recovery. Exporters such as Plummy Fashions Ltd., a supplier to Zara and PVH Corp., saw their sales fall by more than 20 percent in July compared to a year earlier.
Despite Bangladesh being one of the largest garment exporters in the world, many companies struggle to compete internationally. In order to stay competitive, Bangladesh needs to diversify its product portfolio and focus on three key competitive advantages. It must first offer competitive prices. Bangladesh must have a fast and efficient transport system. Third, Bangladesh must have skilled labor.
DBL Group: The DBL Group consists of a diverse group of companies that have textile and apparel manufacturing facilities in Bangladesh. It is one of the largest manufacturers of knitwear in the country. Its products are sold in Europe and the US. H&M is also a major customer of DBL Group for knit garments. Esprit, Walmart-George and G-Star are other major buyers of DBL Group.
RMG Sector: The Bangladeshi garment industry has made significant progress in the past decade. The country’s garment industry has become more competitive, diversifying its customer base, improving its workforce, and improving its supplier performance. However, Bangladesh still faces significant challenges due to the rising prevalence of HIV/AIDS as well as a changing global apparel sourcing market.
Mexico
The United States-Mexico Trade Agreement, or USMCA, has improved competitiveness for Mexican textile and apparel producers. The agreement has changed the rules for origin of textiles, making it easier to source textiles from Mexico for US companies. The “yarn forward” rule of origin requires that all components must be made in the free trade zone (FTA). This includes spinning yarn, weaving fabric and dyeing process. The proximity and low cost of making textiles in Mexico make it a good choice for many U.S. manufacturers.
Despite its declining market share, the United States is still the largest clothing exporter in North America. The US pays its garment-workers higher wages than other countries around the world. Mexico is the second-largest North American exporter. However, the United States and Mexico import very little clothing from Africa or South America. The business industry considers these areas too unstable for growth. However, Brazil and Egypt are the top exporters from Africa.
Mexico’s textile industry has been established for centuries. In Puebla, Mexico was home to the first textile factory in 1830. Since then, the country has developed successful yarn, fabric, and apparel industries. Mexico’s textile industry exports $7 billion worth clothing each year. It is important to consider Mexico as an option for a textile manufacturing plant.
U.S.
According to Statista, the United States has the second largest apparel market in the world. The global retail sales of footwear and clothing topped 1.9 trillion dollars in 2019. They are expected to rise to three trillion dollars by 2030. The country’s clothing manufacturing sector employs nearly 92,000 people. More than half of American companies export textiles and clothes.