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Buyers look to South America for fresh supply channels
With retailers and buyers from around the globe looking for fresh sourcing channels, the COTTON USA Sourcing Program brought together seven U.S. mills, 15 Latin American and European retailers such as Zara and Diesel, and 47 Andean, Central American and Mexican apparel manufacturers for a two-day Sourcing Fair in Lima, Peru.
Attendees held private meetings to discuss business opportunities that would move U.S. cotton yarns and fabrics through the regional supply chain, with close to 700 individual meetings taking place.
The event included a conference session with a panel of experts who addressed key textile and apparel trade issues such as an overview of textile and apparel agreements between Latin America and Europe; a review of the current cotton price situation; a discussion of Western Hemisphere textile and garment industry capabilities; and sourcing requirements for European brands & retailers.
The timing of the Sourcing Fair proved invaluable, since European brands and retailers have recently gained interest in sourcing opportunities from Latin America as increased costs in Asia and political uncertainties in North Africa have strained usual supply channels.
The event enabled overseas buyers to meet all segments of the Western Hemisphere supply chain in one location. This streamlined approach to sourcing reinforced existing business relationships and fostered new relationships between U.S. mills, their Latin American customers and downstream buyers from their region and from Europe.
