In the first quarter of the year, companies in the country imported $5 million worth of yarns and textile supplies, 15% more than what was purchased in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Information System on the Textile and Textile Supplies Market in Honduras, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
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"...
The Salvadoran union has stated that excessive bureaucracy and high production costs are the main factors that could be encouraging some textile mills to reduce operations in the country.
José Antonio Escobar, president of the Chamber of the Textile Industry, Clothing and Free Zones of El Salvador (Camtex) told Elsalvador.com that one of the companies that has shut down part of its operations, to transfer them to another country, is Fruit of the Loom.Escobar said"...'In the plant owned by Fruit of the Loom in the industrial park American Park, where a thousand people work, the company will make a reduction of about 850 positions'."
Textile entrepreneurs anticipate an increase in Canadian investment once the trade agreement with this country takes effect on October 1st, 2014.
Daniel Facussé, president of the Honduran Maquila Association reported that "... representatives of three Canadian companies visited the country and showed interest in investing in maquila and buying sportswear.
In March this year, the textile and manufacturing industries, including the manufacturers of wire harnesses and garments, grew by 3% compared to the same period in 2013.
A report by the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), at the International Trade Administration of the United States, details the recent performance of the maquila industry in Honduras and locates the country as the fourth largest producer of fabrics in the world.
On May 20th-22nd the XXIII edition of the Apparel Sourcing Show will be held with the presence of companies in the region and international buyers.
The international event will be held at the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel, where it is expected that 500 exhibiting companies will take part along with five thousand potential buyers from various textile countries in Latin America and elsewhere.