Increased demand creates more than 1.300 jobs in 2015

Employment has grown sharply, by 3.2%, accelerating the recovery started in 2014, and have generated 1,328 jobs.

Currently, the Spanish textile sector consists of 3,565 companies, employing 43,186 people with a turnover of 5,500 million euros.

Turnover by 4.9% and increase production by 5.3%

New record in exports, which totaled 3,626 million euros, an increase of 2.3% over the previous year.

Barcelona, ​​March 7, 2016. The Spanish textile sector in 2015 has created 1,328 jobs, so the volume of employment has increased by 3.2% compared to 2014. Currently, the sector employs to 43,186 people and consists of a total of 3,565 companies, representing a turnover of 5,500 million euros.

The recovery of activity and employment has been consolidated thanks to the favorable evolution of domestic consumption of various textile markets. In the apparel, retail sales increased by 3.7%. It has also improved the section of home textiles, thanks to the positive inflection in the housing sector and good tourist year. Finally, the smooth progress of major industrial sectors such as automotive, has positively influenced the demand for technical textiles.

Improving the situation it has been reflected in the behavior of the main variables of the textile. In addition to employment, improve the turnover (4.9%), production (5.3%) and the volume of foreign transactions (5.5%). Moreover, prices have remained almost stable (0.3%), reflecting cost containment supported by the drop in fiber prices.

Textile exports have totaled 3,626 million euros, an increase of 2.3% over the previous year, achieving a new record since the start of the crisis. Notably, foreign sales of carpets and coatings (18%), the household textile products (12%), while yarn and fabrics are maintained.

Exports that have increased are those targeting American countries, influenced by the favorable euro exchange rate; and North Africa; while exports to the EU have grown only 1.2%.

57% of foreign sales are directed to the EU; 25%, countries of the Mediterranean area; 8%, the American market; and 6% are directed to Asia. The main customers are Morocco, France, Portugal, Italy and Germany, which account for 58% of total foreign sales.

Imports have continued in growth rates that exceed exports (8.5% versus 2.3% above) and have reached 4,159 million in 2015. This behavior is a reflection of the improvement of the domestic market and higher level of industrial activity. The largest increases in imports were recorded in the household textile articles (20%) and the technical (11%).

Notably, thanks to improved business confidence indices have resumed investment projects that had been parked because of the crisis. As a result, the volume of imports of textile machinery has exceeded by 25% the previous year and accumulates an increase of 67% over the last two years.

Prospects for 2016 are for continued recovery, albeit with slower growth than in 2015. It is expected that domestic demand is maintained through the current improvement in the labor market, while exports remain in positive terms, if While growing doubts on the economies of emerging countries and the slow European recovery, which could represent an important brake on the outside business activity.

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Anna Becerra: abecerra@dcorporatecom.com

Albert Naya: anaya@dcorporatecom.com