The sector’s turnover was 8,900 million in 2021, 16% less even than in the year of the pandemic. 35,000 fewer people at work than in 2019
The textile sector is not rearing its head. In the past two years, it has lost 57% of its revenue and is in a “very complicated” situation. The report presented on Thursday by employers’ association Acotex shows that the sector’s turnover in 2021 amounted to 8,900 million euros, a decrease of 16% compared to the previous year, in the middle of the pandemic. That year, turnover had already fallen by 41% compared to 2019, when the sector had a turnover of 18.1 billion euros.
Eduardo Zamácola, president of Acotex, is not optimistic about the recovery of the sector: «Predicting when we will reach pre-pandemic figures is almost impossible, no one expected the war to come in Ukraine, there would be so many supply problems in Southeast Asia because of the covid, nor that inflation has reached these levels ». Zamácola explains that to reach pre-pandemic figures, double what is sold now would have to be sold, so recovering from that level in the short term is “absolutely unachievable, there are still years left”.
And the lack of income has direct consequences for the network of branches and employment. The report shows that there are currently 44,672 textile shops in Spain, 17,200 fewer than in 2019. As a result of all these closures, the number of employees in the sector has fallen by 5% in the past year. Today 163,846 people work in the sector, 35,200 less than in 2019.
And it is that Spanish families spent an average of 786 euros on clothing last year, 117 euros less than in 2020 and well below the 1,256 euros spent on average in 2019. Those who have spent the most on clothing are consumers from the Basque Country, Madrid and Castile and León. The least, those of the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Extremadura.
Internet sales remain well above pre-pandemic figures and already represent 15.5% of total revenue, up from just 8% in 2020. However, it does not meet the 20% quota reached the year of the pandemic, due to the incarceration that forced them to make the necessary purchases without leaving home.
“The sector does not have the strength to last much longer, it is exhausted,” Zamácola said during the data presentation, who also acknowledged that “it will be reasonable” to increase retail prices in 2022 due to the rise in the costs of raw materials and the logistics chain.
The president of Acotex explains that for consumers now “clothing purchases are not their priority when it comes to spending” and that could lead to more store closures and “the streets and neighborhoods become lifeless”. He believes that this trend of buying less clothes is starting to take hold, not just because of the pandemic and now the war. “Since 2008 we have been much less consumerist in textiles and more careful. People want to travel and eat well, clothing is no longer a priority,” he concludes.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
