At a time when major Asian countries are reviving their apparel exports to USA and some of them are even crossing pre-COVID levels, there is no sigh of relief for Sub-Saharan countries as their apparel exports have come on standstill!
During H1 ’21, the countries in the region have clocked US $ 632.54 million from their garment shipment to USA – their leading exporting destination, noting just 8.67 per cent Y-o-Y growth, while the values have plunged by over 3.50 per cent as compared to H1 ’19.
The recent data released by OTEXA says that Kenya remained on the top with US $ 204.38 million worth of apparel exports to USA during the first half of 2021, growing by just 3.64 per cent on Y-o-Y basis and declining by 4.20 per cent as compared to H1 ’19.
The second top exporter from Africa to USA was Lesotho, with US $ 131.35 million worth of shipment in H1 ’21. The country grew by 26.48 per cent on Y-o-Y basis but it fell by 3.31 per cent as against H1 ’19.
Furthermore, other major exporting destinations Madagascar and Ethiopia have somehow been able to uplift their respective apparel shipment in H1 ’21 as compared to H1 ’19.
Madagascar shipped US $ 116.89 million worth of apparels to USA, noting 13.62 per cent increase as compared to H1 ’20, while the growth over H1 ’19 period was 4.10 per cent.
Ethiopia too upped its garment exports to USA by 16.29 per cent and 33.52 per cent over H1 ’20 and H1 ’19, respectively. The country clocked US $ 122 million from its shipment to USA during H1 ’21.
Though Sub-Saharan African region hasn’t tapped notable growth in H1 ’21 on Y-o-Y basis and tumbled over H1 ’19, the positive apparel exports of two promising destinations Madagascar and Ethiopia are keeping the industry on the move. Still, it is a difficult road ahead for Sub-Saharan Africa as the region has to undergo tremendous competition in the global garment export market.
