For the first half of 2018, Taiwan’s textile exports inched up by two per cent year on year. Fabrics accounted for 66 per cent followed by yarn with 17 per cent, fiber eight per cent, apparel five per cent, and others four per cent. Vietnam was the largest export destination, followed by China, the United States, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

Besides serving long-established brands, Taiwanese companies have been foraying zthe rapidly emerging fast-fashion apparels, supplying brands like H&M and Root, whose order-to-shipment time may be only one week instead of the usual half year.

Taiwan has captured some 70 per cent of the fast-expanding global market for functional fabric, which in turn accounts for ten per cent of the total fabric market. It has also been a major supplier of fabric made from recycled materials. About 50 per cent of the fabric material is now recycled, and the proportion is expected to rise to at least 70 per cent in the next few years as increased environmental awareness drives international demand.

To assure quality and reduce production costs, many of the major Taiwanese textile companies have integrated operations that cover everything from fabric production and dyeing to making the apparel. They have also established global production networks to further control costs.