ITC Reports on Production of Sub-Saharan African Cotton Yarns and Fabrics
The International Trade Commission has issued a report entitled, Sub- Saharan African Textile and Apparel Inputs: Potential for Competitive Production, which states that Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have the greatest potential to be competitive in the production of cotton yarn, fabric, and other textile and apparel inputs, but they face numerous challenges.
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(This report is required by P.L. 110-416, which extended the Andean Trade Preferences Act/Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPA/ATPDEA), among other things. (See ITT's Online Archives or 10/20/08 news, 08102015, for BP summary of P.L. 110-416.)
SSA Textile and Apparel Items With Potential for Competitive Production
In its report, the ITC discusses the potential for competitive production of the following SSA textile and apparel items (partial list):
Cotton yarn, knits, denim, shirting fabric. According to the ITC, cotton yarn, cotton knit fabric, denim fabric, and to a lesser extent, cotton woven shirting fabric, appear to the have the most potential for competitive production in SSA countries, as cotton is the primary fiber currently used in the production of yarn and fabric in the SSA countries, and it is grown in large quantities in the region.
Organic cotton, wool, hand-loomed fabric, modal, etc. SSA countries also have the potential to competitively produce certain niche textile items including: organic cotton yarn and knit fabric used for T-shirts; certain wool woven fabrics; hand-loomed fabric of cotton and silk; African print fabric; and yarn and knit fabric made of speciality manmade fibers, such as modal.
Fabric for uniforms, blankets, acrylics, mosquito nets, etc. The SSA countries produce some products that appear best-suited for local or regional markets, including woven fabric for uniforms, blankets, bedsheets, and towels; acrylic yarn; cotton fabric for cotton bale wrap and cotton picking bags; and knit fabric for mosquito nets.
ITC Recommends Investment in SSA Textile and Apparel Industry
The ITC states that new or increased investment or other measures could assist the SSA industry in maintaining or expanding current production and export levels of textile and apparel inputs, as well as increase the potential for production of some new products.
ITC notes that SSA production of textile and apparel inputs has declined recently as a result of increased competition from Asian producers. Additionally, SSA countries face numerous and substantial challenges in their production of yarn, fabric, and other textile and apparel inputs. As a whole, SSA countries have an insufficient apparel base through which to develop and sustain upstream production in yarn, fabric, and other inputs.
The ITC notes that SSA countries also face severe challenges with their infrastructure that raise the cost of existing production and also deter significant new investment in the capital-intensive textile industry. (See ITT's Online Archives or 05/13/09 news, 09051325, for BP summary of the ITC's recent report on the effects of SSA's infrastructure conditions on export competitiveness.)
(See ITC report for complete findings.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/08/08 news, 08120830, for BP summary of the ITC's initiation of this investigation.)
ITC press release (09-041, dated 05/15/09) available at http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2009/er0515gg1.htm
ITC report (Inv. No. 332-502) available at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4078.pdf