The sector shows significant growth with a turnover of almost 1,000 million euros, export sales accounting for 26.25% of this figure.
Sales at home increased by 5.62%, whilst sales overseas increased by 8.38%, evidence of the success of backing internationalisation.
The EU continues to be the main destination for Spanish childcare products, although there is significant growth in exports to countries in Asia and the Middle East.
The latest turnover figures for 2009 presented by ASEPRI (Spanish Manufacturers Association of Children’s Products) show an increase of 6.33% in sales of Spanish children’s fashion and childcare products. These figures demonstrate a positive balance for the sector and its staying power in the current economic climate.
ASEPRI, the umbrella association for the major companies in the Children’s Fashion and Childcare Products sector which includes 184 member companies and over 300 associated brand names, closed the 2009 financial year with a turnover of over 989 million euros; the sustained growth of recent years continues.
This trend is evident in both domestic and international sales figures. Indeed, 2009 turnover figures for the domestic market reached 729,880,587 euros, an increase of 5.62%. However, export sales accounted for 26.25% of total turnover with a figure of 259,840,876 euros, representing an increase of 8.38% on figures for 2008.
Vicente Mompó, president of ASEPRI, attributes the good figures for the sector to the quality of Spanish childcare product brands, which continue to be a benchmark both in domestic and overseas markets. He says, “endorsing the internationalisation, safety, quality and design of Spanish brands makes the difference, putting them in the lead and generating profits”.
Mompó also compared current figures with turnover figures for 2008. In this area, he emphasised that although growth in 2008 was higher than growth in 2009 (7.4% in 2008 compared with 6.33% in 2009), “the balance is still positive, given that companies have continued expanding in spite of the economic recession, and their efforts to internationalise have been rewarded by earning one out of four euros of total sales in the sector overseas.”
In this respect, it is worth noting that 69.5% of sector companies affiliated to ASEPRI sell abroad to an average of 5-6 countries. The EU continues to be the main destination for Spanish childcare products, and Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom and France continue to be the main destination countries. In sum, 96.9% of affiliated companies exporting their products during 2009 did so within the EU market.
However, a new trend is emerging with companies exporting to countries in Asia (19.8% of companies export to this geographical area) and the Middle East, these destinations accounting for 13.4% in 2008 as compared with close to 23% in 2009.
Amongst ASEPRI-affiliated sectors the 2008 trend continues, whereby children’s fashion accounts for 63% of total turnover and childcare products account for 30%. However, the latest study reveals that the Spanish childcare products sector has garnered a larger amount of international sales compared with figures for 2008.
Classified by type, baby and children’s clothing accounts for 50.3% of sales turnover for children’s fashion companies, and is therefore the most significant category. By contrast in the childcare products area, star products are in the small items and stationary categories, such as child safety, feeding and hygiene products, cots, rockers, highchairs and children’s furniture in general, accounting for 70% of turnover.
As regards children’s fashion, main destination countries are Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, France, Greece, Mexico, USA, Germany, UAE, Russia and Ireland; whilst as regards childcare products, new destination countries such as India and Denmark have joined the top ten along with Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Holland, United Kingdom, Luxemburg and Mexico.
FORECASTS FOR 2010
The turnover study carried out by ASEPRI also sheds some light on growth perspectives as compared with 2010. Here, it is worth noting that sector perceptions for this year are determined by the favourable results predicted for international sales, with an increase of double that of national sales envisaged (9.5 % as against 4.4%).
In the same vein, 47% of companies in the sector expect to grow, whilst 39% expect to maintain their position and only 14% expect to lose ground.
With the invaluable support of organisations such as ICEX, IVEX, IMPIVA and organisations for regional development and overseas promotion in other Autonomous Communities, ASEPRI continues to endorse the internationalisation of companies in the childcare products sector.
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17/05/2010