Clothing & Textiles
The South African textile industry is well developed - not only in the traditional activities of clothing, textiles and home textiles, but also in the modern sub-sector of technical textiles. Textiles are South Africa's sixth largest employer in the manufacturing sector and the eleventh largest exporter of manufactured goods. The bulk of this sub-sector's products are sold as intermediate inputs to the clothing industry (19% of total sales) and other sub-sectors. The reduction of U.S. import duties will potentially be a huge boost to the South African industry all round. For the most part, the industry is concentrated in the coastal areas - i.e. KwaZulu Natal, Eastern and Western Cape. The local market is characterised by a few large firms, with a number of smaller concerns.
