Textile industry foresees 4% growth regardless of imported goods
DCI
The perspective of the textile sector in 2010 is to reach 4% growth compared to 2009, according to the Association of the Textiles Industries of the State of São Paulo (Sindtêxtil-SP). However, the imports of products from China, Bangladesh and Cambodia still concern the sector, because in 2005, the figures amounted to US$ 3.7 million and in 2009 Brazil imported US$ 110 million, according to data of the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit).
According to the Abit, until October Bangladesh alone exported US$ 12 billion in the textile sector and it is currently considered one of the leading suppliers of the sector in the world market. China, on its turn, sells mesh to Brazil at US$ 13.63 per kilo, whereas other countries charge US$ 19.73, that is, China sells at a 30.91% lower cost. The difference in the price of the clothing fabric gets to 133%: 96% in mesh fabric, 93% in jeans pants, and 30% in denim fabric. According to the President of the Sindtextil-SP, Rafael Cervone Netto, China has this kind of attitude in the world market because it does not absorb the goods it manufactures.
The data of the Abit demonstrates the significance of the sector for the economy, which represents a productive force of 30 thousand enterprises installed throughout the national territory, companies of all sizes that employ more than 1.65 million workers and together generate annual earnings of R$ 43 billion (US$ 25 billion). The segment has invested US$ 1 billion annually for ten years in order to leverage the sector. "We will continue investing in 2010. But in 2008, when the crisis was still not foreseen, we invested US$ 1.5 billion in 12 months", said the President.
The companies aligned with the association also bet in the growth of the market and, to some extent, in some measure of the Government in relation to the imported products. The French giant Rhodia plans an investment of R$ 200 million (US$ 116.3 million) in Brazil until 2014 and according to the international President of the company, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, part of that investment will be applied in the line if textile yarn. "We will bet in the sector, because this year, despite the crisis, there will be a 4% increase compared to last year", he explained. Vicunha Têxtil, a company of the Tintêxtil Franco Matos Group, plans strengthening the operations in the segments of indigo and denim - activity in which the company is a leader and is also the largest company in Latin America - in 2010.