Abit (Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association) announced the numbers for the Brazilian textile industry in 2020, in addition to the sector recovery projections for 2021. With the pandemic, production was affected and many companies started producing masks and other PPE to avoid stopping in the period. The sector closed 2020 with an estimated 1.87 million tons of manufactured products by 2021, this figure is expected to increase to 2.09 million tons and 5.81 billion pieces. The figures are similar to those presented in 2019, when the country produced 2.05 million tons and 5.94 billion pieces.

In the annual revenue, it is estimated R$ 55.3 million in textile manufactured and R$ 152.1 billion in clothing products, which will represent, respectively, increases of 10.5% and 24% compared to the figures recorded in 2020. The association says, although the numbers seem high, in fact the comparison is on a low basis. This is because the sector had been trying to recover since 2010 and in 2019 it was regaining a more solid growth, but was hit by the pandemic, being one of the most affected.

Another highlight is the number of jobs, which after a significant drop in 2020, will grow again in 2021. The expectation is of 25 thousand new jobs, around 65% of the volume reduced last year. The association also points out that this growth will be gradual.

Even with the challenges of the year, the textile and apparel sector can contribute to the pandemic by making masks for sale and donation. The number of the produced item jumped from 6.5 million to 140 million in four months, with around 140 companies converting their production to this demand.