In just 30 years, the textile and apparel industry in Mauritius—a small island in the Indian Ocean—has become the world’s second largest fully fashioned knitwear producer, the third largest exporter of pure new wool products, and Europe’s fourth largest supplier of T-shirts.
In the EU, which takes almost two-thirds of exports, Mauritian textile and apparel producers have enjoyed duty- and quota-free access for 37 years under the Lomé Convention and later the Cotonou Agreement. In 2001 Mauritian textiles and apparel companies started to enjoy similar access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However, these benefits depend on the use of materials made in Sub-Saharan Africa or in the USA. Also they do not cover knit-to-shape apparel.
Mauritius now faces growing competition from lower cost suppliers elsewhere in the region and from Asian producers. Furthermore, the country’s quota-free access to the main markets will cease to be a competitive weapon after 2004 when all quotas restricting trade between World Trade Organisation members have to be removed. Some firms are responding by moving their operations offshore, including to nearby Madagascar. Others are diversifying from basic knitted and woven shirts, trousers, jeans and fully fashioned knitwear to items of higher added value. For its part, the government sees a wider role for Mauritius as a “Hong Kong or Singapore of Africa”—a centre for sourcing products from reliable and quality-conscious suppliers.
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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