Malaysia’s textile and apparel exports increased 10 per cent in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period the previous year. Growth is mainly driven by increasing demand in global market for high quality textiles and clothing from Malaysia, as well as the rising purchasing power in major importing countries. The country’s textile and apparel industry is targeting higher end of the global value chain with diversified production of higher value-added products. The industry has also implemented latest automation and technology in its manufacturing and distribution, while actively seeking business collaboration with foreign companies and undertaking new R&D activities to further strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.

The textile and apparel industry currently employs over 68,000 workers across more than 970 registered garment and textile factories in the country, of which over 400 are making readymade garments, and the rest are operating in major sub-sectors including polymerisation, spinning, weaving, knitting and wet processing, and textile accessories.

Currently, the US, Japan, China, Singapore and Turkey are Malaysia’s top five export destinations. The US remains the largest export market for Malaysian textile products, accounting for over 18 per cent of the industry’s total textile and apparel exports every year.