Peru’s textile industry could face trouble, due to a decrease in exports, according to Juan Varillas, head of the country’s Association of Exporters (ADEX).

Varillas said the country’s textile exports still have not recovered as expected, from the crash of 2008.

He said textile exports between January and April of this year totaled $472.7 million, 14 percent higher than the same period in 2010.

However, the amount, he said, is still below pre-crisis levels, when textile exports reached $507.2 million in the same period.

According to Peru21, the country’s textile industry supports around 411 thousand jobs.

Varillas said exports had been affected by a decrease in demand from the United States, which accounts for 42 percent of Peru’s textile exports, and is “a market that is under uncertain danger of infection from Europe.”

Moreover, Venezuela, another key importer, is also experiencing long-term unstable growth, due to the country’s complicated political situation, according to Varillas.

"Others [facing uncertainty] are Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina, however, we must take into account that both Brazil and Argentina have implemented protectionist measures against free trade,” Varillas was quoted as saying by Peru21.

“The Government must take steps to revive the sector, which is labor intensive, and whose outlook in the short term is worrying," he said.

 

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