Clothing Trade in Poland in the Years 2009-2013 and Prospects for its Growth

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*Lodz University of Technology, ul. Wolczanska 215, 90-924 Łodź, Poland Abstract The textile and clothing sector in Poland suffered severe losses in the transition period. The clothing industry was the first where sales rates started to increase, which made garment production and trade an interesting area for research. This article was designed to assess the size of the clothing market in Poland, to estimate the difference (surplus or deficit) between clothing exports and imports, and to analyse the sales revenues of major clothing companies in Poland (Polishand foreign-owned). To achieve these three goals, the authors selected appropriate secondary statistics and used them in their own calculations to extract necessary numbers, which were presented in tables and provided with comments. They showed the present situation of the clothing industry in Poland in terms of its sales at home and exports, enabling the comparison of domestic sales of Polish and foreign-owned companies, and providing inputs for predicting the likely future of clothing trade in the country. The forecast pointed to the clothing industry’s substantial potential for growth, to the competitive advantage of garments made by large Polish producers in the domestic market over clothing products delivered by foreign-owned firms, and to a probability that clothing exports would exceed clothing imports soon.