Central Statistics Office (CSO) of Mauritius reported 16.1 decrease in textile exports to 19.3 billion Mauritius rupees down from 23.05 billion rupees in 2004.
Textile manufacturing segment is a major foreign revenue earner for Mauritius, besides tourism, sugar, and financial services.
Downward trend in textile sector began with the ending of global textiles quotas in January 2005 and from then on, Mauritius has been facing severe competition from cheap producers and global leaders like China.
As per CSO quarterly bulletin, apparel and clothing declined by 3,715 million rupees or 16.1 percent in 2005.
Apart from the competition, rising oil prices also affected the textile sector and trade deficit reached a record level of 30 billion rupees, last year.
Textiles and apparel Export Processing Zone (EPZ) contributed 66 percent of Mauritius' manufacturing export sector and earned 29.2 billion rupees in 2005 compared to 32.05 billion rupees in 2004.
EPZ imports raw materials and converts it in to ready-mades that are exported to American and European markets.
Mauritius' EPZ also exports diamonds, jewellery and watches, toys and sports wears.
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