According the Research and Markets, manufacturers and buyers of textiles and apparel have been forced to adapt to a plethora of changes in recent years. The global elimination of quotas at the end of 2004 has led to greater competition.

At the same time, players in the sector are faced with rising and fluctuating raw material costs, and they are being subjected to ever greater demands by retail buyers in terms of product quality and delivery times. Quota elimination has, however, provided manufacturers with an opportunity to rationalise their supplier portfolio. Some have changed to different types of suppliers, while others have begun to develop strategic relationships with buyers in order to gain a competitive edge.

Faced with competitive pressures, manufacturers have invested in special capabilities, including total quality management systems, modern design facilities, logistics and transportation functionality, and information technology (IT) infrastructures. These capabilities enable producers to offer more to their customers. Those who have invested in them therefore stand to gain valuable competitive advantages.

As far as trade is concerned, world textile and apparel trade will double in the ten years to 2015. Within the overall total, the fastest growing category will be home textiles. However, textile sourcing as a whole will become more local. The future of world trade will also be affected by the rapid development of domestic markets for textiles and apparel in China and India. One consequence will be a stabilisation of export growth from these countries by 2012 as an increasing proportion of their production is diverted to their respective domestic markets. Meanwhile, there will be greater opportunities for other leading suppliers to US and EU markets. Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam will continue to gain market shares. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan could also become major forces. The period to 2015 will, in addition, see the emergence of regional textile and apparel production and exporting “hubs”.