Foreign buyers of garments and textile expect will increase sourcing from the Philippines to $1.2 billion this year, says Robert Young, President and Chairman, Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP). Besides, easing quarantine restrictions, Philippines’ orders are growing with additional purchases due to Vietnam’s ongoing lockdown, adds Young. Orders from Myanmar are also shifting to Philippines, he adds. However, the Philippine garment and textile industry is still being threatened by unprecedented supply chain disruptions in the US that hamper the US economic recovery plan.

FOBAP is also one of the signatories of the appeal letters issued by the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) to the Biden administration. The letters urge the US government to look at using other tools beyond the tariff as trade leverage. The group also welcomed the introduction of the Ocean Shipping reform Act of 2021. Meanwhile, Young said major headwinds faced by the industry include empty clothing shelves, price increases of the products, lesser number of shoppers, outdated fashion items, aside from store closures and workers being terminated.