The Indonesian textile industry was given a boost this week with figures that suggested the sector was in good health to survive the abolition of export quotas in January by some of its major markets.

According to figures from the Indonesian Textile Association (API), exports of textiles and textile products were up 13% year-on-year to US$7.3 billion in the first 10 months of 2005.

API executive secretary Ernovian G. Ismy was quoted by the newswire Asia Pulse as saying the Indonesian share of the US market rose to 3.5% for 2005 from 2% the previous year.

Exports to the US, the largest market for Indonesian textiles, rose 17.4% in the first 11 months of 2005 to US$2.9 billion.