South Africa Tops In African Textile & Apparel Exports

The biggest textile exporter from the African continent is South Africa at US $3.8 billion in 2023, mainly from technical textiles which are primarily supplied to aeronautics companies.

Ethiopia’s textile exports stood at $2.5 billion in the previous year as the country’s textile industry is gaining traction from businesses trying to escape rising wages in Asian countries.

“Kenya’s exports amounted to $1.5 billion in 2023 and the country is a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which was introduced in 2000,” data from Mordor Intelligence informed.

AGOA allows duty free exports of garments to the US by sub-Saharan countries, which is a great leverage over Asian exporters of clothing.

Textile exports from the small country of Lesotho which is also a beneficiary of AGOA amounted to $1.2 billion, while those from Egypt stood at $1.1 billion.

“The African textile industry has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, with several countries on the continent emerging as major players in the global market,” Business Day reported.

The industry has created employment opportunities, generated revenue, and promoted economic development in many African countries.