World Textile And Apparel Trade And Production Trends: The Usa, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia And Mexico, 2009 Edition Reports Now Available On Reportsa

US consumer expenditure on clothing and footwearand clothing exports rose by 4.9%, but in the first
fell by 1.1% in 2008 and continued to decline in the firstquarter of 2009 they plunged by 38.0%.
half of 2009 as the recession took hold. Reflecting theThe industry in Brazil suffered a similar fate as textile
downturn, there was a 10.6% fall in the volume of USand clothing exports plummeted by 23.3% in the first
textile and clothing imports in the first seven months ofseven months of 2009 after rising by 2.6% in 2008.
2009. Exports fell too as demand in foreign marketsTextile output fell in the first four months of 2009 and
weakened. In textiles, exports plummeted by 24.1% asclothing fared even worse.
shipments to the USA's two biggest markets, CanadaIn Colombia the textile industry has fared much better
and Mexico, fell sharply. In clothing, exports declined bythan clothing. Although export growth has slowed,
6.8%, again due to lower sales in Canada andsales of textiles rose by 25.8% in the first half of 2009.
Mexico—although shipments to Japan and SaudiBut clothing exports plunged by 54.5%, having been
Arabia grew strongly. As a result of these trends, USdragged down by a slump in demand for Colombian
textile and clothing output dropped significantly in thegarments in Ecuador, Mexico, the USA, and Venezuela.
first few months of 2009. Employment was also hitIn Mexico the industry continued to struggle as US
and stood 15.0% lower in September 2009 than a yearimporters shifted orders to China and other low cost
earlier.Asian countries. In the first half of 2009 alone, Mexican
In Argentina, textile output rose by 1.5% in 2008 buttextile and clothing exports declined by 17.5% after
dropped by 13.2% in the first half of 2009. Foreignfalling by 6.2% in 2008.
sales followed much the same pattern. In 2008 textile