The report, titled “Mozambique’s second-hand clothing market: the status quo of opportunities and challenges”, was commissioned by ADPP Mozambique.
From an economic and environmental perspective, it evaluates the global importance of the SHC industry.
Importantly, the report highlights the need to consider the economic realities of the global South in a broader discussion on the global value of second-hand clothing trade.
Research Insights:
– The SHC industry provides direct support to over one million individuals.
– The established suppliers in the industry earn an average of $650 per month, far exceeding the national minimum wage of $90.
– A large portion of the population, at least 85%, depends on SHC to meet its basic clothing needs.
The industry pays about $35 million in taxes to the Mozambique budget, which supports key social programs such as health care and education.
Mrs. Luisa Diogo, former Prime Minister of Mozambique and non-executive director of the ABSA Banking Group Board, participated in the senior panel for the release of the report, saying: “I warmly welcome this new report, which highlights the importance of the SHC industry to the economy of Mozambique and the well-being of our people.
“This sector is not just clothing; it is a source of dignity and opportunities, maintaining families, creating jobs and contributing a lot of taxes to essential services such as education and health care.
“The report outlines the beneficial evidence of the SHC trade in Mozambique and the African continent. It emphasizes the importance of economic diversity and supports growth in Mozambique and Africa. I firmly believe that SHC as a green economy as a part of the green economy will be the core of African growth, i.e., in Africa’s growth – sustainable development – sustainable development and constitute continuous development, as well as inclusiveness, and constitute New York.
The study eliminates certain myths about SHC dumping by highlighting the tradition of clothing reuse in Mozambique, where clothing is often passed down to generations or creatively reused by local tailors.
The SHC industry enhances its quality of life by providing employment and skill development opportunities, which is particularly transformative for marginalized groups, including women and youth.
These findings are consistent with similar studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, which are the leading importers of SHCs such as Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania.
The report also warns that restrictive trade policies in Europe and Africa may inadvertently provide market advantages to other large exporters, such as China, a flooded market with low-quality “fast” fashion projects.
