The Thai Garment Dealers Association pointed out that before the formal formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), garment operators occupied strategic towns and transferred their production bases to neighboring countries.
Yutaya, president of the Thai Garment Merchants Association, revealed that Thai garment manufacturers have adjusted to adapt to international competition, strengthened their own advantages, such as relatively complete manufacturing in the production process, and adapted to the diversified market, with products ranging from high-end to mid-range. , and the production of cloth varieties is the most diversified in the world. At the same time, it strengthens the development and training of talents and upgrades the production process to a more modern level, making some of Thailand’s ready-to-wear brands gradually become famous in Southeast Asia.
Yutaya said that currently 20-30 self-created brands in Thailand have become popular in the ASEAN region, making it the country with the largest number of self-created brands among ASEAN countries before the ASEAN Economic Community was officially established in 2015. However, Thailand’s ready-to-wear brands are still not as good as Singapore and Malaysia in terms of market penetration. Although the number of ready-to-wear brands in these two countries is less than that of Thailand, they have more branches in the ASEAN region than Thailand, and their market visibility is also greater. The brand opened up the market several years ago.
Thai garment manufacturers have only realized the intention to develop the ASEAN market in recent years. However, judging from the progress, the development speed is relatively fast. They are confident that Thai garment brands can compete with other brands in the market this year. Thai garment manufacturers The designs are diverse and the sewing quality is good, and they are particularly well received in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Garment processors (OEMs) that accept external orders have recently adjusted their business strategies to strengthen the ability to diversify processed products, improve processing technology and upgrade processing equipment, and transfer production plants to neighboring countries to reduce labor costs. To take advantage of the preferential tariff treatment rights of neighboring countries, 21 garment processors in Thailand have set up 29 garment processing factories in neighboring countries.
It is expected that Thailand’s garment exports will increase by 3-5% this year compared with last year, with an export value of approximately 84 billion baht. Exports grew by 2.7% in the first five months of this year, and we are confident that exports will grow every month in the remaining seven months of this year.
