Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed – Ahmed Al-Khamisi
The trade in used clothing “bales” has begun to expand in recent years, and the demand for it has increased by Libyans, after the decline in the purchasing power of the dinar, the rise in inflation rates to significant levels in the country, and the spread of poverty and unemployment.
In this context, the owner of used clothing stores in the Ain Zara area, south of Tripoli, Tawfiq Al-Amdani, told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that with the rise in the exchange rate in recent years and the decline in the purchasing power of the dinar, the consumer is looking for a cheap commodity that is in line with his income.
Al-Amdani added that used clothes are in good condition and suitable for the poor classes, and their prices are considered cheap, as a piece does not exceed 30 dinars, while its new counterpart is sold in the market for about 135 dinars (one dollar = 4.85 dinars).
Citizen Yasmine Al-Tarhouni, in her fifties, says that she buys used clothes in the Ghout Al-Shaal area, due to their low price, which is sufficient for a family of seven people, with a monthly income that does not exceed 1,500 dinars, which is equivalent to 309 dollars.
The Libyan citizen added that used clothes solved the problem of children’s clothing in particular, as the price of one new piece reaches about 300 dinars, while in used markets it does not exceed fifty dinars.
On Al-Rashid Street in the center of the capital, Tripoli, a used clothing merchant, Nizar Al-Haj, told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that he has been working in the trade for more than ten years, but in recent years he has resorted to the used clothing trade due to the demand of customers for it.
He pointed out that young people are not looking for brands, but rather for cheap clothes, as income does not allow buying expensive shoes and clothes in light of the deterioration of citizens’ purchasing power.
In the Tajoura area, east of Tripoli, the owner of a number of shops selling used clothes, Issam Ben Halim, told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that imports are mostly from China and Turkey, and I do not need documentary credits, as the goods are cheap and purchases are most often made through the parallel market. There are those who buy through documentary credits, but they take a long time, up to 20 days.
Bin Halim added that after the success of a small shop selling used clothes, we now have approximately 22 commercial stores distributed in the eastern, western and southern regions. He said that “bales” will remain the master of clothing markets.
For his part, economic analyst Jumaa Al-Muntaser told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that most of the used clothing trade takes place through the informal economy, with remittances not exceeding $30 million annually.
In the Tajoura area, east of Tripoli, the owner of a number of shops selling used clothes, Issam Ben Halim, told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that imports are mostly from China and Turkey.
He added: During the last quarter of last year 2023, small merchants were allowed to make financial transfers through the banking sector.
He pointed out that most of these small and micro enterprises depend on a small capital that does not exceed 10 thousand dollars, but trade has become a presence in the markets, and there is no opportunity for the consumer to obtain better and less expensive alternatives to these clothes in light of the significant increase in the price levels of new clothes. .
Bale clothes is a term that has long been present in the Arabic dictionary, and it means used clothes that are resold to other people for reuse.
According to data from the Central Bank of Libya, documentary credits for importing clothing during 2023 amounted to $54.92 million.
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2024-05-08 07:58:52