Imports of garments and clothing accessories reached $332 million during the first three months of the year, 3% more than what was reported in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system of the Central American Clothing and Clothing Accessories Market, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
In the first quarter of the year, imports of yarns and textile supplies in Central America totaled $127 million, registering a 10% drop compared to the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Information System on the Textiles and Textile Supplies Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Last year Central America imported $1.467 billion worth of clothing and clothing accessories, the highest value in the last six years, registering a 15% increase compared to 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Apparel and Clothing Accessories in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In 2017, purchases made by the Central American country from Chinese companies totaled $1.97 billion, 6% more than the amount imported in 2016.
According to figures from the Banco de Guatemala, between 2016 and 2017, Guatemalan imports from the Asian country rose from $1.854 billion to $1.970 billion, registering an increase of 6.3%.
Guatemalan authorities announced that in the coming weeks they hope to finalize the extension of the FTA with the South American country, which will consist of inclusion of the textile and rubber sector.
With the aim of continuing to promote Guatemalan exports from the textile industry, Executive authorities stated that after the last visit to Colombia, they were able to reach an agreement to expand the conditions of the FTA.
Between January and September of 2017, Central American countries imported $977 million worth of clothing and accessories, 14% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on theApparel and Clothing Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Companies from Hong Kong and Taiwan could be interested in setting up a synthetic and manufacturing plant in the country.
The information was provided by representatives of the Apparel and Textile Commission (Vestex) at Agexport, who explained that in the case of the company from Taiwan, its interest is in establishing a manufacturing plant and supplying the US market.The other company, from Taiwan, could be interested in installing "... a manufacturing plant for synthetic products, and the countries that they are investigating are Guatemala and Haiti."
Companies in the Asian country are looking to provide Guatemalan textile workers with accessories, threads and synthetic fabrics with finishes.
Textile companies in Guatemala envisage the possibility of generating more value in their supply chain with products that can be provided by Chinese companies that specialize in accessories and other necessary inputs for the textile production chain.
In 2016, the value of imported yarns and textile raw materials in the region amounted to $328 million, equivalent to 89 thousand tons, 6% more than the volume purchased in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Yarns and Textiles materials, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
Within the framework of the Apparel Sourcing Show, a delegation of Chinese textile entrepreneurs will be visiting the country in May, to explore business opportunities in the sector.
The Apparel Sourcing Show event will be held from May 23 to 25 at the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel, and will bring together textile companies from the Central American region and from other countries.
The Colombian firm Arturo Calle has announced the opening of a store in Oakland Mall, and plans to open three more stores in the next two years.
<span dir="ltr">The company which designs and sells menswear has announced its arrival in Guatemala, where it will be setting up a store in Oakland Mall.
The new free zone, which started operating in Palín, houses the Korean textile company Alcatex and the plastics manufacturer Plastifar, from the Dominican Republic.
In addition to Alcatex, the company Plastifar has also started operating in the free zone known as Michatoya, created from a partnership between the municipality of Palin, Escuintla, and the city of Incheon, the main logistics port of South Korea.
The spanish company that manufactures textiles for hotels and hospitals, Resuinsa, has announced the opening in Costa Rica of a distribution center for the region.
Resuinsa announced that from its logistics center in Costa Rica it will distribute its products to Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, as well as supplying the local market.The company manufactures and supplies textiles to hotel chains, hospitals and nursing homes.
This is good news for Central American textile manufacturers. We will have to wait and see what other protectionist measures will be implemented by President Trump.
The possibility that the United States buys textiles from Vietnam at lower prices than those paid by textile manufacturers in Central America seems to have now disappeared, however, in order to measure the true impact of the Trump protectionist policy on trade between US business and the region we will have to wait to see what other decisions on international trade deals are take by the new administration.
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand. The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet...
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