Textile exports to the United States reported at the end of 2011 an increase of 25%, with the largest exporter being Honduras, followed by El Salvador.
Marisa Mont, a technician at the Economic Integration Secretariat, outlined the results, "Recovery begins from 2010 and is growing exponentially. This demonstrates an upward trend and that clearly is going to continue, although it is probably not going to keep growing by 25%, but it is an uptrend.
In 2011, Nicaragua increased its exports of textiles to over $1.35 billion, 33% more than in 2010.
The increase in export volume was 13%, going from 362.9 million square meters in the year 2010 to 410.1 square meters in 2011.
"According to a report published by Anitec, despite having surpassed the export target of $1.3 billion, during the fourth quarter a slowdown in the rate of monthly growth was registered, 'which was caused by the implementation of a strong policy of inventory management, the effect of conservative behavior of stores and brands, in response to the phenomenon of a potential crisis in the European Community '," reported Laprensa.com.ni
Exports up to August totaled $870 million, 35% more than in the same period in 2010.
During the same period the increase in volume was 22%.
Projections for this year, according to the Nicaraguan Association of Textile and Apparel Companies (ANITEC in Spanish) are that it will close with an increase in exports of between 20% and 30% compared to 2010.
In 2010, Nicaraguan textile companies operating from free zones shipped a record figure of $1,018 million.
According to Anitec, the association which represents these companies, the figure implies a 14% increase when compared to 2009 and a 8% increase if measured up against 2008 (formerly considered the best year ever).
As to volumes, last year they shipped 362.87 million square meters of textile products, 17.7% more than 2009 and 9.7% more than 2008, reported Laprensa.com.ni.
Up to September, exports reported an increase of 10.8% over the same period in 2009.
According to the Nicaraguan Association of Textiles and Apparel (Anitec), foreign sales until September 2010 totaled $ 733.74 million.
"Although this sector only surfaced, considering the cumulative growth of 2008, the performance in September was slower than compared to last August, which increased 14.6 percent," published Laprensa.com.ni.