Talking strategy: Haiti's apparel industry is growing but could it do better?
The apparel industry in Haiti has faced many challenges in recent years—most notably a devastating earthquake which hit the country in January 2010. Since then the industry has attracted major investments and its exports have grown significantly. However, it has yet to realise its full potential. The industry is geared almost entirely to the US market—where its products benefit from preferential market access under a number of trade acts. Furthermore, it is heavily dependent on cut, make and pack (CMP) operations and it focuses mainly on the production of knitted T-shirts for two major apparel providers based in North America. In this edition of "Talking strategy", Robin Anson examines the development of the apparel industry in Haiti and analyses Haiti's place in the apparel buyer's "global sourcing matrix". Also, he discusses opportunities for the industry to expand into new product areas, and explains why 2018 is a crucial time for attracting investment.
SETTING THE SCENE
HAITI’S APPAREL INDUSTRY APPEARS TO BE GROWING
Exports
Employment
DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING THE APPAREL INDUSTRY IN
HAITI
Competitiveness of the apparel industry in Haiti
Sustaining the apparel industry in Haiti
WHERE DOES HAITI FIT INTO THE BUYER’S GLOBAL SOURCING
MATRIX?
DOES HAITI NEED MORE INVESTMENT?
WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE
STATISTICAL APPENDIX
HAITI’S APPAREL INDUSTRY APPEARS TO BE GROWING
Exports
Employment
DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING THE APPAREL INDUSTRY IN
HAITI
Competitiveness of the apparel industry in Haiti
Sustaining the apparel industry in Haiti
WHERE DOES HAITI FIT INTO THE BUYER’S GLOBAL SOURCING
MATRIX?
DOES HAITI NEED MORE INVESTMENT?
WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE
STATISTICAL APPENDIX
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: US clothing imports from Haiti by product category, 2017
Table 2: US imports of knitted shirts from Haiti, 2000-17
Table 3: Comparisons of apparel industries in selected countries in Central America and Africa, 2015
Table 4: Haiti: new investors, 2017
Table 5: Haiti: rent costs and availability of space in the major industrial areas and zones, 2017
Table 1: US clothing imports from Haiti by product category, 2017
Table 2: US imports of knitted shirts from Haiti, 2000-17
Table 3: Comparisons of apparel industries in selected countries in Central America and Africa, 2015
Table 4: Haiti: new investors, 2017
Table 5: Haiti: rent costs and availability of space in the major industrial areas and zones, 2017
LIST OF MAPS
Map of Haiti
Map of Haiti
