The manufacture of textiles and garments grew rapidly during Thailand’s economic boom in the late 1980s. As a result, it became one of the country’s key export sectors. Labour costs were low, foreign investors were allowed to own majority shares in approved joint ventures and the authorities offered generous investment incentives and privileges. Furthermore, the Thai government promoted the country’s assets skilfully.
Since then, Thailand has lost much of its competitive edge. Labour costs have risen and productivity has lagged behind that of its competitors. Several other major Asian countries - including China, Indonesia and Bangladesh - have lower labour costs, and many of these players have increased their share of world clothing exports at the lower end of the market at Thailand’s expense.
The private sector has responded by relocating factories to areas where manufacturing costs are lower. Such areas include the Thai-Burmese border, where Burmese workers enter Thailand looking for casual work and are prepared to accept low wages. Some companies have shifted to north eastern Thailand, the poorest part of the country, where the minimum wage is considerably lower than in Bangkok.
The industry’s international competitiveness has improved with a one-third fall in the value of the Thai baht against the US dollar. However, most of Thailand’s neighbours have also devalued their currencies. In order to compete, the industry will need to upgrade workers’ skills and productivity, and move to higher value products.
Product Overview
| Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries – and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues. | |
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| Reports in Textile Outlook International include: | |
 | country profiles – providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future. |
| | company profiles – giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations. |
| | trends in world textile and apparel trade and production – taking into account current issues facing the industry – such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more. |
| | trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing – providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories. |
| | innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets. |
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| So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing – in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing – or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry. | |
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| Textile Outlook International is available on subscription – either in printed format only, or in printed and electronic format. If you choose the printed only option, you will receive 6 printed publications a year, containing a total of 30 reports plus editorials written by Robin Anson, our editorial director and in-house industry expert. | |
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| Electronic supplement If you choose the printed and electronic option, you will receive an extra service. You will still receive each issue in printed format, delivered to you by traditional post. In addition, you will be able to download PDF files containing the same information – but the PDF files will be available immediately on publication, so you don’t have to wait for the printing and mailing. You also have all the benefits of electronic files: instant access even when you are away from the office; convenient storage in your PC or laptop; portability; electronic search facility; and copy/paste facility. | |
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