The apparel and textile export sector in Thailand has in recent years been described as a “sunset sector,” but an oft-repeated sentiment at the GFT 2024 Expo in Bangkok on June 26-29 was that the industry could see the sun rise yet again.
The four-day trade show at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) was tagged as a one-stop shop for industry solutions, with many exhibitors agreeing that it remains the most comprehensive textile exhibition in the ASEAN region.
With more than 200 exhibitors and approximately 10,000 attendees, this year’s theme centered on “The Right Match: Weaving Business With the Right Partners.”
The organizers underscored the urgency of forging better partnerships to ensure Thailand’s future in the industry.
“When an industry is in a critical situation, people should come together to survive. We have seen that happening here—and there are new trends too. There has never been so much representation of the younger generations in our show,” RX Tradex marketing director Natkon Woraputthirunmas told Sourcing Journal. The group organizes the GFT event.
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“The people who came to GFT are manufacturers and those who want to meet the fashion brands. It’s the only annual gathering for the garment and textiles industry to come together to talk about how the industry is going, how to build brands, for the market to come together, and there is a lot of sense of cooperation,” he said.
Thailand exported approximately $6.03 billion-worth of apparel and textile materials in 2023, down from $6.85 billion in 2022. According to the office of Industrial Economics in Bangkok, textile and apparel exports and domestic sales are expected to grow in 2024 with production increasing due to the government’s economic stimulus measures and policies, as well as the recovery of the tourism sector.
“However, factors to be monitored include geopolitical conflicts, continuous increases in policy interest rates of major economies, the global economic slowdown, inflation in many countries, and energy shortages in Europe,” the organization noted in a recent report.
“These factors may be pressing factors that cause the economy of trading partners to slow down. Furthermore, an increase in electricity prices and labor wages will affect the production costs of the textile and clothing industry, to ease the burden of expenses on the people both in the short and long term,” it read.
Thailand is expected to see 2.6-percent GDP growth in 2024, up from 1.9 percent in 2023. GDP is projected to rise to 3 percent in 2025, according to the Bank of Thailand’s June reporting.
Innovative technologies and products, including machinery, were on display at GFT. Exhibitors and attendees also said they were keen to learn about factory upgradation.
Texturized printmaking technology in the form of a 2,400 DPI-resolution machine capable of printing up to 180 cm wide was showcased by the Thanasarn Intergroup, along with Tajma’s TMCR- VO912F embroidery machine, featuring automatic thread tension adjustment. Epson’s eco-friendly DTG printers were also among the tech showcases.
There was a strong showing in the China pavilion, and seminars spanned topics like global industry opportunities, capturing popular trends, and economic supremacy through growth. Both in discussions and the showcase, it became apparent that the industry views sustainable innovation as the way forward.
“It is time for us to take it in a new direction, with a different focus,” Setthapong Srisuphonvanij, president of the Thai Textile Merchant Association (TTMA) told Sourcing Journal.
“What is happening is that changes are taking place towards more creativity and technology, which is fast becoming the trademark of the industry in Thailand. There is a changing demand in modern clothing markets, and the need for specialty textiles to meet consumer needs,” he said.
Chaiyos Rungcharoenchai, founder and CEO of Perma Corporation, whose stall attracted a stream of visitors, explained that there was “an explosive level of interest in unique initiatives.”
“It is being a lot about innovation,” he said, citing the group’s anti-bacterial polyester staple fiber, which is made through the embedding of nano zinc-oxide for odor control. “We avoid the use of coatings and chemicals in production, making it non-irritating and suitable for sensitive skin. The integration of zinc in the fiber production process ensures durability against washing and regular use maintaining the fabric’s condition over time,” he added.
The fiber’s application ranges from socks to denim.
Meanwhile, ZS International’s DryDye Fabric dyeing technology claims to reduce energy consumption and recycle 95 percent of CO2 and dye powder waste, and NYL-One Yarn turns fishing nets into nylon yarn and apparel.
Amornpol Huvanandana, co-founder and CEO of Moreloop, said he gave up a career in banking to pursue his vision of changing the industry with an online marketplace for surplus fabric and factory waste, which can be bought by smaller companies for use in new products.
TTMA’s Srisuphonvanij observed that the industry spirit was galvanized by the presence of such innovations. “As sourcing chains find changing patterns in 2024, the idea is to be a sunrise industry again,” he said.