Global apparel output up 1.9%

Global apparel production in the second quarter increased 1.9 per cent, but was outpaced by global textile production, which grew 3.8 per cent. The gains were led by developing and emerging economies, according to a new United Nations report, where textiles registered growth of 5.3 per cent and apparel 3.1 per cent. In rich industrialised nations, production saw a decline of 0.9 per cent for textiles and a fall of 2.7 per cent for apparel.

Significant growth rates over 9 per cent were found in the production of apparel in Poland, Turkey and Vietnam in particular, the report found. World manufacturing growth has also been affected by the generally lower growth rate in the US and Japan, the second and third largest global manufacturers. Increasing pressure associated with financial volatility and falling oil prices has contributed to the instability of manufacturing growth in industrialised economies.

Overall manufacturing growth in Europe, North America and East Asia remained sluggish during the quarter, the report found. World manufacturing output rose by 2.2 per cent in the quarter compared to the same period of the previous year, which is marginally higher than the 2.1 per cent growth estimated for the first quarter of 2016.