Experts note that East Africa has witnessed significant growth as a sought-after destination for textile sourcing in recent years, however, the potential expansion of its fabric and apparel supply chain might encounter obstacles due to inadequate investments in local production and the influx of second-hand goods from various global markets.
Insufficient purchases of new clothing by the local population have created challenges for the growth of 170 large and medium-sized apparel companies, along with 74,000 small and micro firms, all of which are currently striving to enhance their domestic business prospects.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ 2022 economic survey, Kenya witnessed a significant increase in the import of second-hand apparel in 2021, amounting to 183,830 tonnes. This figure represents a notable 20 percent surge compared to the previous year. Analysing the data from 2017 to 2021, it is evident that Kenya had an average annual import of 160,638 tonnes of textile goods over the five-year period.
Kenya imports a significant amount of used apparel and footwear due to several reasons, as stated by IEA Kenya. These reasons include the generation of over US $ 84 million in tax revenue from import duties, the contribution to the livelihoods of more than 2 million individuals, and the existence of a large local market. IEA Kenya explains that the demand for second-hand clothes is driven by the purchasing power of many people whose incomes can only afford such purchases.
