The Supply Chain of Textile Manufacturing: Africa's Role as a Backward Participant

Abstract: Globalization transformed supply chains, resulting in increased productivity, complexity, and risk exposure. Textile supply chains are complex and facing similar challenges along with more specific for the industry. Africa is of increasing interest in textile supply chains due to low cost of production. Participating in supply chains through manufacturing, and infrastructural issues limit the possibility of adding value, which is an issue for African countries. The aim of this thesis is to analyze effects of participating in a global textile supply chain, current trends in textile manufacturing, and African countries’ role. Especially of concern for this thesis are South Africa, eastern African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and northern African countries such as Morocco. The questions that have been answered are; (1) what trends are impacting textile supply chain manufacturing from a global perspective? and (2) what role does the African region play in textile manufacturing within global supply chains? For this thesis inductive research was performed with relativistic ontology, constructionist epistemology and single case study methodology. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and secondary data, and that data will be thematically analyzed with triangulation between the primary and secondary data. The research found and concluded that the major trends in textile manufacturing are sustainability and nearshoring. Africa’s role in global textile supply chains is mainly through manufacturing with complex supply chains, low education levels, and limited value adding activities. Due to young populations and sustainable practices, there are opportunities for the continent to continue to develop and add more value in the future.