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outh Africa's growth in real domestic value of cotton products imports represented
Sproduct (GDP) slowed, employment growth approximately 35% of the total import value of
in the domestic economy remained insufficient textiles and clothing. Textiles and clothing to
to fully absorb new entrants into the labour the total value of R11.6 billion have been
market and the economic environment in South exported, of which cotton products represented
Africa in the recent past had been characterized approximately 15%.
by very weak demand for consumer products.
There was a 24% increase in the total volume
During the third quarter of 2017 the production of cotton yarn imports during the first nine
capacity utilization for months of 2017. A total of
textiles was 65% and that 14 359 tons of woven
of clothing was 75%, lower cotton fabrics (about 12%
than the same time the of total fabric imports)
previous year. Insufficient were imported during the
demand is quoted as the same period, about 19%
reason why capacity more than the previous
utilization is low. A total year. The majority of
number of 73 504 workers imported woven cotton
were employed in the textile fabrics originated from
and clothing sectors, down China (51%) and Pakistan
by 6.2%. The average (26%). During the same
volume of production index for the spinning, period a total of 655 tons of cotton yarns have
weaving and finishing sector remained the same been exported, 108% more than the same
as the previous year. This is good news, period in 2016. The majority (about 83%) of
especially when taking into account that the cotton yarns went to Botswana, Lesotho and
knitting sector's index Swaziland. A total of 3 804
decreased by nearly 4% tons of cotton woven
while that of other clothing fabrics have been
decreased by 11.5%. exported, which
Factory sales for the represented about 35% of
spinning, weaving and total fabric exports. This
finishing sector increased by was 17% less than the
1.8% to amount to R6.3 same period the previous
billion while that of other year.
textiles increased by a mere
0.6% to R10.6 billion. The Clothing imports declined
knitting sector's sales by 11% to amount to
increased by 8.7% per cent to R1.9 billion while R16.4 billion, half of which originated from
the clothing sector's sales increased by 1.3% to China. About R8.1 billion represented imported
R13 billion. cotton clothing. Exports of all clothing have
declined by 47% from 2016 to 2017 to amount
It is clear that the local textile and clothing to R2 billion, while exports of cotton clothing
industry is on the decline. Capacity utilization have declined by 39% and amounted to R637
is low as a result of insufficient demand. The million.
volume of production index showed a decline
and retail trade sales for textiles, clothing, Economic growth is slowing down and
leather and footwear decreased. Employment uncertainty in the domestic economy remains
is also declining. During the first nine months high. The decline in the local textile and clothing
of 2017, textiles and clothing to the total value industry is expected to continue during 2018.
of R30.9 billion have been imported, about 7%
down from the same period in 2016. The total Helena Claassens - Cotton SA

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