REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TEXTILES AND APPAREL

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001293 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT, NEA/ARP; COMMERCE FOR ITA/OTEXA; USTR FOR CAROYL MILLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTEX ECON ETRD KU SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TEXTILES AND APPAREL PRODUCTION REF: SECSTATE 114799 Per reftel request, Post compiled the most recent data available concerning Kuwait's textile industry from various GOK sources. The textile industry in Kuwait is minuscule and does not export significant amounts of textile product, nor does it employ large numbers of people. The vast majority of textiles produced are for local consumption, and much of the total value of production is comprised of added value from the custom tailoring of imported cloth. Most employees in the textile industry work as tailors. Because of the negligible presence of textile manufacturing in Kuwait's economy, the questions in paragraph five of reftel do not apply. The most recent data available concerning the areas specified in reftel are as follows: Total industrial production value in USD: $50.26 billion (including oil and gas) Total textiles and apparel production in USD: $267.2 million Textile/apparel share of host country imports: 10.4% Textile/apparel share of host country exports: 0.8% Exports in textiles and apparel to the United States in USD: $3.4 million Total manufacturing employment: 101,118 Total textiles and apparel employment: 17,362 Source: Kuwait Ministry of Planning ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * MISENHEIMER