BATEC SUMMARY
BSP2 PERFECTLINK Project
Survey on Competitiveness
in Textile/Clothing and Leather Sectors
in Participating Countries
ANNEX 1 - QUESTIONNAIRE ON COMPETITIVENESS
SUMMARY
Country
Association
BULGARIA
BATEC
1. Company profile.
1.1 In which sector does your company operate?
Mainly textile (spinning/weaving)
Mainly clothing (apparel)
Mainly leather
Mainly leather products (including shoes)
Total companies
1.2 Products sold:
Mainly yarns, fabrics
Mainly men’s wear, women’s wear, baby/child wear, sportswear
Mainly technical items
Mainly knitwear (outwear and underwear)
Mainly home textiles, upholstery/curtains/carpets
Mainly leather
Mainly leather products (including shoes)
Mainly others (specify)
Total companies
1.3 Origin of products sold:
Own Production
Traded product (outsourced/import)
Total companies
Number
of
companies
65
86
0
0
151
Number
of
companies
91
95
11
36
0
0
0
0
233
Number
of
companies
131
85
216
1
BATEC SUMMARY
Total
companies
1.4 Size
turnover (M
euro)
Number of companies
- n. employees
<5
5-20
20-50
>50
63
<10
72
10-50
4
50-250
0
>250
139
Number of companies
0
32
87
24
143
-
1.5 Sales (markets)
Number of companies
Mainly Domestic
Mainly EU 15
Mainly EU new accession countries
Mainly Rest of the world
Total companies
88
59
33
71
251
2
BATEC SUMMARY
2. General Awareness on Competitiveness (please tick your choice)
2.1 Your company’s sales are:
- Increasing
- Decreasing
- Stable
Total companies
In terms of
Quantity
(number of
companies)
In terms of
Value
(number of
companies)
Total
companies
87
60
39
28
64
47
115
124
86
325
2.2 Do you think that the current strengths of your company are sufficient to
cope with competition or need change:
- No changes
- Minor changes
- Major changes
Total companies
2.3 In the next two years the competitive position of your company will be
stronger, weaker or similar to present in your market?
- Stronger
- Weaker
- Similar
Total companies
2.4 Who are the most threatening competitors?
Domestic
European Union 10 (from newly accessed countries)
European Union 15
South Mediterranean
Chinese
Other (specify)
- Turquie
- USA
Total companies
Number
of
companies
8
87
48
143
Number
of
companies
20
73
49
142
Number
of
companies
37
36
55
48
58
1
2
237
3
BATEC SUMMARY
3. The Chinese issue
In recent years Chinese manufacturers substantially increased their market share in European
markets. This trend is expected to continue in the next years, facilitated by the complete elimination
of the quota system
3.1 Did your company have DIRECT
consequences of the recent increase
in Chinese competition?
YES
NO
Total companies
Number of
companies
110
36
146
If the answer is NO, go to question n.3.6
If your answer is YES (tick the appropriate answer)
3.2 Consequences were:
Number
of
companies
loss of clients
60
reduction of sales to one or more clients
35
decrease of own prices in order to maintain the same
16
level of sales
reduction of quantities and decrease of price in own
34
sales
Other (specify):
0
Total companies
145
3.3 The negative impact on your business was:
very remarkable
significant
minor
Other (specify):
Total companies
3.4 In which segment of your clients did your
company suffer most the
Number
of
companies
16
92
14
0
122
Number of
companies
4
BATEC SUMMARY
Chinese competition?
Domestic traders (retailers/wholesalers)
European (25) traders (importers/wholesaler/retailers)
Rest of the world traders
Domestic manufacturers (supply chain)
European 25 manufacturers (supply chain)
Rest of the world manufacturers
Total companies
36
37
50
1
11
22
157
3.5 Which of your products were hit the most by Number of
Chinese competition?
companies
Upper range
8
Middle range
73
Lower range
41
Total Companies
122
3.6 What are the strongest competitive factors of the
Chinese exporters?
Price
Price/quality ratio
Customisation/Flexibility
Scope of product range
Other (specify):
Total companies
Number
of
companies
75
31
14
57
0
177
3.7 Do you think that the Chinese manufacturers Number of
adopt unfair competitive practises?
companies
Only sometimes
22
Often
78
All Chinese sales are characterized, to some extent,
42
by unfair practices
Total companies
142
3.8 Do you have evidence of unfair practises?
Yes, direct evidence
No direct evidence
Only Clues
Rumours of the market
Total companies
Number of
companies
15
65
36
32
148
5
BATEC SUMMARY
3.9 In your opinion, which kind of unfair
commercial practises are adopted by the
Chinese?
False custom declarations
Unregistered imports/smuggling
Dumping
Counterfeited products
Other (specify)
Total companies
Number of
companies
50
38
77
39
0
204
3.10 Who are the strongest allies of Chinese
Number of
products?
companies
Local consumers
37
Those local manufacturers who outsource production
12
in China
International brands present in your country (e.g.
11
Benetton, Hugo Boss)
Large retailers in your countries
62
Traders (importers/wholesalers)
72
Other (specify )
0
Total companies
3.11 Do the Chinese manufacturers have weak
points?
Quality
Delivery/service
Product design
Other (specify )
Total companies
194
Number of
companies
85
29
46
1
161
3.12 Under the current general conditions, how large is the
competitive advantage of Chinese producers in the following
factors:
Number of
companies
6
BATEC SUMMARY
Price
Price/Quality
ratio
Customisation
Product Range
Other( specify ):
Total companies
Large
Significant Minor
no
(number of (number of (number of advantage
companies) companies companies (number of
companies)
135
7
0
0
15
92
12
2
2
10
0
36
47
0
78
7
0
30
24
0
142
121
146
88
497
7
BATEC SUMMARY
4. The Future
4.1 In the next years the Chinese presence in
European markets will:
Increase
Remain as today
Decrease
Total companies
Number of
companies
129
13
1
143
4.2 What factor may be effective to counter
Chinese competition under the current general
trade condition
Productivity increase and costs reduction
Quality
Fashion/Design
Brand/Communication
Service/delivery
No factor is really effective
Other (specify )
Total companies
4.3 In your opinion what are the levers that
should be supported to enhance the
competitiveness of European manufacturers
Support innovation (technology, design, etc )
Support the financial strengthening of companies,
Support human resource development (training,
etc)
Lower taxes, lower social costs
Other (specify)
Total companies
Number of
companies
67
13
64
39
35
3
0
221
Number of
companies
79
35
25
50
0
189
8
BATEC SUMMARY
4.4 Does your company have a strategy to deal with
the new competition
Not yet
We have been thinking about but a new plan has not yet
been outlined
Yes, we have developed a new competitive strategy
Other (specify )
Total companies
2
Number of
companies
32
98
12
0
142
4.5 If you have been thinking about a
new competitive strategy what are the
actions that you envisaged?
(1=low importance, 5 = high
importance)
1
3
4
5
Price reduction through cost reduction
and increased productivity
Price reduction through outsourcing of
some production processes/products
Quality improvement (materials and
manufacturing processes)
Improvements in design and fashion
Improvement of service component
(delivery, etc )
Improvement of customer satisfaction
through customisation
Investments in image, brand and
communication
Other (specify )
--
3
8
7
6
6
8
2
9
6
26
4
8
8
5
18
4
2
3
6
4
1
8
6
40
2
3
3
4
3
26
7
2
4
3
19
(number of (number
(number
(number (number
of
of
of
companies) of
companies companies companies companies
9