Morocco's textile exports post 6.7% growth since 1994

Despite difficulties experienced by the textile sector worldwide, Morocco's exports of textiles and ready-to-wear garments have posted a 6.7% growth since 1994.

Despite the various hardships in this decade (the Gulf War, European economic recession, tougher competition, consumption slump, Asian crisis...), Morocco's production and exports of textile have been on the rise and reached in 1998 a record figure of U.S $2.5 billion (24 billion DH).

The Moroccan association of textile and garments (AMITH) said in its latest newsletter that most exports went to France (47%), Britain (16%), Germany (12%), Spain (7%), the Benelux countries (4%) and Italy (4%).

The newsletter notes that more efforts should be made in the Belgian, German and Italian markets so that Morocco can improve its performance in the European Union. Presently, Morocco is the 6th-largest textile supplier for Europe and holds 4% of the European market.

The textile industry accounts for 16% of the processing industries production and 46.1% of exports. It uses 39% of the workforce in the processing industry and is marked by a dominance of small and medium sized enterprises which represent 80% of all textile and garment plants.

With 190,354 wage-earners working in 1,600 units, the sector emerges as a major economic leader and is set to develop even further. Indeed, Since 1994, jobs in the sector have grown by two fold and a half, production is three times higher and exports turnover is almost five times higher.