In the first nine months, sales of transformation goods totaled $3.220 million, of which $2.637 million came from the textile industry.
The result of the commercial balance of goods for transformation (Maquila), accumulated to the third quarter of 2018, showed a surplus of US$1,024.1 million; behavior derived from the year-on-year increase of 4.0% in exportations, which totaled US$3,219.7 million in the mentioned period, partly counteracted by imports of raw materials of US$2,195.5 million, informed the Central Bank of Honduras.
According to the textile industry union, half of the $2.6 billion exported in 2017 corresponded to pullover sweaters, cotton t-shirts, cotton briefs, synthetic fiber t-shirts and synthetic socks.
The Chamber of Textile, Clothing and Free Trade Zones of El Salvador (Camtex) reported that in 2017 the sector exported $2.617 million worth of clothes, $95 million more than was reported in 2016, which is equivalent to an interannual increase of 3.8%.
Salvadoran textile companies report that between January and October exports of textiles and clothing grew by 3%, but the maquila sector went down by almost 9% compared to the same period in 2016.
Patricia Figueroa, executive director of the Chamber of the Textile, Clothing and Free Trade Zone (Camtex), explained to Laprensagrafica.com that"...
Exports of goods for processing in the first half of 2017 totaled $1,992 million, of which $1,624 million corresponded to the textile industry.
From the report "Foreign trade of goods for transformation up to the second quarter of 2017" by the Central Bank:
Honduran exports of goods for processing in the first half of 2017 totaled US $1,992.0 million, up by US $11.4 million (0.6%)comparedto June of the previous year (down 6.3%). This result is particularly associated with the rise of textiles and manufactured fibers (polyester yarns), destined - mostly - for the United States of America (USA) and Central America.
In 2012 $1.3 billion was registered in sales of services in the country, mainly from maquilas and call centers.
According to the executive director of the Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments of El Salvador (Proesa), Giovanni Berti, despite the contribution to trade this is a sector that is not given much attention. Services, inside of the export category, are a very dynamic item, said Berti.
In January 2013 maquila exports totalled $81.5 million, 16.5% higher than that recorded in the same month of 2012.
A statement from the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador reads:
Exports of El Salvador: U.S. $478.0 million in January 2013
In January 2013, exports from El Salvador reached $478.0 million, up from the $29.3 million recorded in the same month of 2012, an increase of 6.5% annually.
With a 4% increase in exports in 2012 compared to the previous year, the textile industry remains the main pillar of foreign trade in El Salvador.
Revenue from sales from the textile industry in El Salvador during 2012 totaled $2.1965 billion, $73.4 million more than in 2011.
Elmundo.com.sv reports that "In recent years, the textile and clothing sector has maintained an upward trend in foreign sales, to the point where exports account for 48% of the country’s total, stressed the Chamber of the Textile, Clothing and Free Zones of El Salvador (Camtex). "
The annual export growth of the maquiladora industry in Honduras is estimated at $200 million, with the entry into force of the trade agreement with Canada.
Laprensa.hn reports that "About 200 million dollars in export growth and the creation of up to 10,000 new jobs is projected for the Honduran maquila industry in 2013 with the entry into force of the FTA with Canada, assured representatives from the sector.
The maquila sector projects a 10% increase in exports, totaling $3.3 billion, compared to 2011.
Daniel Facussé, President of the Maquiiladores Association of Honduras (AMH), told press, "... this year a ten percent increase is being reported due to exports of textiles and labor for services, something which is growing including inside the country’s own firms. "
Nicaragua's textile companies have started exporting to Turkey and Finland, as an "exploration" before the agreement with the EU comes into force.
Since December, textile companies established in the free zones in Nicaragua have been exporting shirts and pants to Turkey and Finland, as a way to explore the regional market before the Central American Association Agreement with the EU is implemented, according to a director of the business association in the industry.
In the first eight months of the year maquila exports reported an increase in volume of 22.3% and 10.9% in value.
Data from the Central Reserve Bank shows that total exports reached $822.4 million up to August 2011.
"The executive director of the Chamber of the Textiles, Clothing and Free Zones (CAMTEX), Patricia Figueroa, said exports this year have already surpassed the levels recorded in 2008, which was considered to be an excellent year for the sector.
Layoffs in the textile industry have been announced after projections of a 10% decline in its exports.
The industry is feeling the impact of the economic recession with a decline in orders from its main market, the U.S., said the president of the Honduran Maquila Association, Daniel Facussé.
An article in Proceso.hn reports that, "according to Facussé, several assembly plants have been forced to make redundancies and others are calling for discontinuations.
Between January and May sales grew by 25% compared to the same period in 2010.
The rise in sales to the U.S. was higher than to countries like El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, which increased by 19%, 17% and 13% respectively in the same period.
With the 25% increase, Nicaraguan exports went up from $381.1 million to $476.7 million. This increase in production is confirmation of a growth trend that has been seen for several months.
The recovery of 18 thousand jobs and a 28% exports increase represents the balance for this year.
Textile entrepreneurs project a similar behavior for next year.
Latribuna.hn reports comments from the president of the Textile Association, Daniel Facussé, "The numbers are encouraging: to date exports are about 28 percent more than last year on products exported and about 20 percent more in dollar value".
Exports of textiles to August rose 20% relative to the same period of 2009.
The director of the Honduran manufacturing industry association AHM, Guillermo Matamoros, commented that in addition to the return of 13,000 jobs in the textile sector so far this year it is hoped that by the end of the year 20,000 jobs will have been created.
Matamoros acknowledged to Laprensa.hn that, "it is too early to tell how the year will end but if current trends continue the industry will almost recover from the effects of the 2009 crisis when exports fell by $500 million".