The Sales of Estonian Textile Industry Rose Only Marginally in 2012

The sales of Estonian textile industry rose only marginally in 2012, but the volume of production at constant prices remained almost unchanged compared with the previous year.
 
During the year, the number of employees in the Estonian textile industry declined by three percent year-on-year. The wages in textile manufacturing sector declined and were equal to 72.4 percent of the average wages in Estonian manufacturing industry, Ministry of Economic Affairs announced.
 
Despite a cut in wages, the productivity per worker increased, which helped companies to keep their costs under control and helped their total profits grow, arileht.ee reported.
 
The development of the textile industry in Estonia, located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, is primarily dependent on the sector’s competitiveness in foreign markets.
 
In 2012, Estonia exported 87.5 percent of all textiles produced in the country, with Finland and Sweden being major destinations. Lately, the UK is also emerging as an important importer of Estonian textiles.
 
Textiles, blankets and pillows are the main export items, which together account for over 70 percent of total textile sector exports of Estonia.
 
The textile industry in Estonia is mainly export-oriented, and it comprises of more than 200 companies. In recent years, the structure of the textile sector has undergone major changes and it has transformed from having a very low level of labour productivity to a level very near to Estonian national average.