Overview
- FITA’s report released in early October 2026 shows production fell 22.6% in January–July 2026 versus the same period a year earlier and that July output was down 13% year‑on‑year.
- Factories are running at just 45.3% of installed capacity, a sharp drop from 2023 levels and well below the 58.2% industry average.
- The chain of textile, clothing, leather and footwear lost more than 28,000 formal jobs since December 2023 and saw a net disappearance of 770 establishments over the same period.
- Investment has collapsed: textile machinery imports plunged 31.2% to USD 78 million in January–August 2026, while imports of finished garments have risen, increasing competitive pressure on local makers.
- Price data show consumer clothes, leather and footwear rose about 11% year‑on‑year in August versus 33.5% for the general economy, a gap FITA says leaves producers unable to pass higher costs to buyers and risks deeper structural loss without policy action.