Prospects for the Textile and Apparel Industry in Malaysia

33 pages, published in Issue 126, November-December 2006   Report price: Euro 600.00; US$ 785.00

The Malaysian textile and clothing sector encompasses a broad range of activities including polymerisation and man-made fibre production, spinning, texturing, weaving, knitting, printing, dyeing, finishing and garment making. Exports of textiles and clothing have increased significantly over the years. Between 2003 and 2005 shipments rose by 21% from US$2.24 bn to US$2.71 bn.

Malaysia’s well developed infrastructure and its favourable labour policies have helped the country to attract foreign investment. However, in 2005 the bulk of funding in the textile and garment sector came from domestic investors. Moreover, the textile and clothing sector accounts for only a small share of investment in the country as a whole. In 2005 a mere 1.2% of total domestic and foreign investment approved by the government was destined for the textile and apparel sector.

In preparation for the elimination of quotas at the end of 2004, the government attempted to increase the sector’s competitiveness by promoting measures to improve operational efficiency and productivity while placing more emphasis on research, development and quality enhancement. In response, manufacturers have invested in new technology, upgraded old machinery and trained workers in order to improve efficiency and quality and to reduce costs.

The next stage in the sector’s development is likely to be a focus on the establishment of its own identity by fostering its own brands. This process has already started but will be exceedingly expensive to fulfil as it will involve—among other things—high levels of advertising expenditure and more sophisticated distribution channels.

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• Trends in US textile and clothing imports, March-April 2007, (March-April 2007)
• Editorial: UK Clothing Retailer Marks & Spencer Turns the Corner, (November-December 2006)
• World markets for textile machinery: part 2 -- fabric manufacture, September-October 2006, (September-October 2006)
• Prospects for the Textile and Garment Industry in the Philippines, (September-October 2006)
• World textile and apparel trade and production trends, September-October 2006, (September-October 2006)
• Prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Indonesia, May-June 2006, (May-June 2006)
• Outlook for Asian Textile and Clothing Trade in the Post-Quota Era, (November-December 2005)
• Prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Thailand, May-June 2005, (May-June 2005)
• Profile of TAL Group: A Leading Hong Kong Apparel Company with an International Presence, (March-April 2005)
• Profiles of Three Leading Singapore Clothing Companies: Ocean Sky, Sing Lun, and Unistar Goo-Way Sourcing, (May-June 2004)
• Profiles of Five Malaysian Textile and Apparel Producers, (January 2003)

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