Africa Bets on Textiles to Drive Industrialization

Africa produces roughly 7% to 10% of the world’s cotton, but captures little of its value. The continent exports most of the crop, about 70%, as raw fiber, with only 12% being processed into yarn and 18% into fabric. The resulting imbalance means Africa spends about $50 billion a year importing textiles—more than triple what it earns from raw cotton exports. A new regional initiative involving six cotton-producing countries aims to change this through a proposed textile corridor that will link production and processing across borders. The initiative, known as the Partnership for Cotton, targets raising local processing from 2% to 25% by 2035. Supported by $5 billion in investment, the initiative is expected to create about 500,000 jobs and generate $6 billion in value-added products. However, experts argue that long-term success will depend on reliable market access, stronger African brands, and greater intra-African demand.