Textiles  and  clothing  occupy  an  important  part  in  the  Spanish  industry  as  they  employ  almost  225.000 people, representing the 8 %  of the industrial employment.

The Small and Medium size Enterprises dominate in textiles since they have greater flexibility to be adapted to the market changes,  specially in fashion.

The main textile activities (yarns and fabrics) are largely, concentrated in Catalonia and Valencia.This region is the main producer in Home / Textiles. Clothing and knitwear specialities are distributed through the whole Spanish territory.

The access of Spain to the EEC in 1986 represented the complete incorporation of  the Spanish firms in the world market. This gave them the opportunity to increase their presence in the foreign market. In 2005 total exports reached 6,5 Billion .

2/3 of the Spanish exports are to the EU, although sales Mediterranean countries and Latin America are also important.

Textile / Clothing Exports ( 1990 – 2005)

Unit: million ε

The products which are mostly exported are garments and fabrics. Spanish textiles are present in more than 150 countries all over the world and the Spanish firms exhibit in important and fashionable international Fairs.

The increasing opening of the Spanish market has also signified a parallel rise in imports during the last years. In 2005 the imports reached 10 Billion ε.

An industry for progress

The Spanish textile / clothing industry is facing an important change since a decade:

● - The entry in the EU.

● - The new requirements of the consumers.

● -  The constant world economic developments.

   The Spanish industry has confronted this challenge developing a series of strategies :

● - Im rovin technological level

● - Technology is a basic factor in  the industrial competitivity specially in the industrialized countries.  The decade of the 90's has been a period of big investments in Spain which improved the technological standard of the industry to the level of the main advanced countries. In this way Sector invested more than 4 billion ε in the last ten years.

● - Adequate market response.

   The new requirements of the consumer:

  design, variety of models, reduced time of delivery (logistics),etc. forced an important change in the industry and Spanish companies are well known for their competitiveness in this field.

● - Internationalization: an offensive strategy.

● - Bearing in mind a growing world competition, the textile firms are realizing an important effort of improving their presence in the international markets. This includes not only direct sales but also all types of operations which promote the expansion  of  the  Sector  outside its  territorial boundaries.

● - Investing in human resources.

● - The efforts which are being developed by the firms are accompanied by a high level of formation of the work force. While improving the Sector, the industry is also offering new employment opportunities and personal promotion.

CONSEJO INTERTEXITL ESPANOL- CIE

Founded in 1979, is the industrial organization which groups all the national textile and clothing sectors, beginning from the man-made fibre producers till the made up garments.

The CIE is the representative of the sector~ in several departments of the Spanish and European Administration.It represents the industry in the~ national (CEOE)and

   international (EURATEX) professional organizations.

It is also the social body which negotiates with the trade unions the frame of the labor relationship in the Sector.

The CIE has a thematic structure: International relations,Technology, Promotion, Labor relations, etc.  Each area is headed by professionals of the textile associations.