Phl garments regaining US buyers

MANILA, Philippines - Americans buyers are making a comeback into the Philippines, especially for garments.

“We got a consensus that all of our members are really receiving more purchase orders now from their principals. And those buyers that stopped buying five years ago during the recession have started coming back and inquiring. In fact, their orders have doubled just about two to three months ago,” said Robert Young, president of the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP).

Young particularly cited a group representing the various department stores in the US, seeing an increase of 65 percent in the apparel volume on higher business placed by its American clients. American buyers are looking for vendors of children knit playwear and women’s woven sportswear categories.

He said the increased orders for Philippine garments confirmed his observation during a recent visit to the US.  

“Every year, we have to observe the market. For the first time in five years, this year is really different in the sense that there is really an increase in the market activities. You can see that shops are really full with the likes of Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Target and Wal Mart which are our members in FOBAP,” he shared.

“I also made informal interviews with the sales managers. They said they have to get part-time sales people to accommodate increased shoppers. This somehow indicates that the US economy has definitely improved,” he added.  

Young was optimistic that the Philippines would receive more orders due to the increasing labor cost in China. This, as the US plans to shelve its trade privileges for Bangladesh on concerns over safety problems and labor rights violations in its garment sector.

“Somehow we will be getting some share of these orders on the garments and hard goods (comprising handicrafts and housewares),” he said.

Aside from the US, Young said some European buyers also expressed interest to place more orders with the Philippines.