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The Manufacture of Tents, Tarpaulins, Sails and Other Canvas Goods in South Africa

The Manufacture of Tents, Tarpaulins, Sails and Other Canvas Goods in South Africa 2020

Rebecca Viljoen | South Africa | 24 June 2020

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Report Coverage

This report covers the manufacture of tents, tarpaulins, sails and other canvas goods with information on the state and size of the sector, influencing factors, and continental and international trends. There are profiles of 36 companies including relatively large companies such as Canvas and Tent and National Tent and Sails, manufacturers such as Canvalodge Manufacturing and sailmakers such as Supa Sailmakers and Fast Sails Covers.

Introduction

This report covers the manufacture of tents, tarpaulins, sails and other canvas goods (henceforth referred to as the manufacture of tents, etc). The manufacture of tents, etc sits within the ‘other textiles’ manufacturing industry, as a secondary subsector of the clothing, textiles, leather and footwear (CTLF) sector. Collectively, the South African CTLF sector employs around 95,000 people and comprises 8% of manufacturing’s GDP and 2.9% of South Africa’s total GDP. Government has made the CTLF sector a strategic priority, which has translated into ongoing efforts to improve efficiencies, competitiveness, and job creation in the sector. Relative to other manufacturing industries in the CTLF cluster, the South African manufacturing industry of tents, etc is not acutely threatened by cheap imports. Conversely, South African companies dominate the South and Southern African market. In 2018, South African exports of manufactured tents, etc was valued at R595m.

Strengths

• As part of the clothing, textiles, leather and footwear sector, there is government support and funding available.
• Diverse customer base.
• Diverse product range.
• Existence of strong institutional industry knowledge.
• Increasing demand for canvas and tarpaulin products (domestically and internationally).
• Modernisation of the manufacturing sector.
• Preferential public sector procurement of local products.
• South African manufacturers of tents, etc are well-established local and continental players.
• Vertical integration in the industry.

Weaknesses

• Major industry players hold large market shares.
• Many uncoordinated players; few manufacturers belong to regional clusters or are adequately represented by unions.
• Scarcity of skilled labour.
• Sensitive to broader economic shocks including volatility in the transport, textile, mining, and agricultural sectors.
• Sensitive to the weak enforcement of public sector procurement policies.
• Significant barriers to entry.

Opportunities

• Benefits from global best practices in cost effective and competitive manufacturing, innovation in productivity and quality.
• Enhanced vertical integration.
• Expanded offerings to respond to the needs of the healthcare system during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Exploring possibilities for under-utilised resources of one business (such as waste, energy, water, logistics, expertise) to be used by another (industrial symbiosis).
• Forming groups to improve collaboration and peer-to-peer learning within the industry.
• Funding opportunities for black-owned businesses.
• Government support programmes and regional cluster initiatives.
• High quality high-altitude mountaineering tents.
• High quality, innovative hiking tents and sails.
• Improved efficiencies.
• Improved innovation and greater investment in R&D.
• Innovation and resource efficiency for bette

Threats

• Cyclical nature of some of the industry’s products.
• Impact of climate change and environmental sustainability.
• Impact of load shedding (energy intensive due to heavy machinery).
• Increasing costs of electricity, labour, transport, raw materials.
• Industry remains vulnerable to cheap imports to a certain degree.
• Susceptibility to economic shocks.
• Technological advances in manufacturing and clean energy, if the industry cannot keep up - will erode competitiveness.
• The increased competitiveness of East African players in the manufacturing of tents for luxury safari lodges.
• The unfolding consequences of coronavirus.

Outlook

In the fourth quarter of 2019, South Africa’s economy contracted by 1.4% and is now in its second recession in two years. While global forecasts expect the demand for the tents, tarpaulins, sails and other canvas goods to increase, the medium- and long-term economic consequences of coronavirus may scupper this anticipated growth. Industry players most immediately and acutely impacted by the lockdown are those manufacturing tents for events, safari lodges and recreational use. A sustained general decline in economic activity will affect the industry more broadly. The coronavirus pandemic has seen a surge in demand for disaster relief tents, medical tents (triage tents, laboratories, field hospitals, quarantine facilities) and camping tents to accommodate at risk groups such as the homeless. Tourism has taken a huge knock from the current pandemic. It is anticipated that ‘social distancing’ holiday packages will be offered as South Africa (and the world) begins to ease up on restrictions, but still requires people to avoid gathering. This is particularly relevant for South Africans and for local holiday destinations, as opportunities for ‘social distancing’ holidays will be available before frequent air travel resumes fully. It is clear that physical events including weddings, funerals and conventions will not be possible for at least several months. South Africa imports very few tents, etc because of the stronghold South African manufacturers in South Africa and southern Africa. Domestically, there is an uneven geographic distribution of companies in the industry, suggesting that new entrants may find opportunities in provinces and municipalities where there are fewer competitors. There is also an opportunity for South African industry players to extend their competitive reach into the rest of Africa, where Chinese exports are their biggest competition. To meet the rising standards of productivity and quality that advanced manufacturing technologies bring, the industry will need to keep up with developments. There is mounting pressure for industries to integrate social and environmental sustainability into their supply chains. Finding alternatives to materials such as PVC, for example, may become a more pressing need for the industry. New market entrants may find a competitive edge by adopting technological manufacturing advancements early on, as well as integrating sustainability into their business models. There is a promising gap in the market for excellent quality high-altitude mountaineering tents.

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The Manufacture of Tents, Tarpaulins, Sails and Other Canvas Goods in South Africa 2020

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Table of Contents

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PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 1
2.1. Industry Value Chain 3
2.2. Geographic Position 4
3. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY 5
4. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY 7
4.1. Local 7
4.1.1. Corporate Actions 8
4.1.2. Regulations 8
4.1.3. Enterprise Development and Socio-Economic Development 9
4.2. Continental 10
4.3. International 12
5. INFLUENCING FACTORS 14
5.1. Economic Environment 14
5.2. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 14
5.3. Labour 16
5.4. Government Support 17
5.5. Cyclicality 18
5.6. Environmental Concerns 18
6. COMPETITION 19
6.1. Barriers to Entry 21
7. SWOT ANALYSIS 22
8. OUTLOOK 23
9. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 24
10. REFERENCES 25
10.1. Publications 25
10.2. Websites 26
APPENDIX 1 27
Summary of Notable players 27
COMPANY PROFILES 30
ACE TENTS (PTY) LTD 30
AFRICAN TARPAULINS AND SUPPLIES CC 31
ALMAR'S CANVASS CC 32
BOSS TENTS CC 34
BUSHTEC CREATIONS (PTY) LTD 36
CANVALODGE MANUFACTURING CC 38
CANVAS AND TENT MANUFACTURING (PTY) LTD 39
CANVAS LAND CC 41
CHATTELS INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD 43
COBRA TACTICAL GEAR (PTY) LTD 45
CRAIG MILLAR SAILS (PTY) LTD 46
CRAWAY TRUST 47
FAST SAILS COVERS (PTY) LTD 49
FREEFORM TENTS CC 50
G H HIRE CC 52
K2018310542 (SOUTH AFRICA) (PTY) LTD 53
LION TARPS-SEILE CC 55
MAVUKANI TRADING ENTERPRISE CC 57
MY FALKSON 59
NATIONAL TENTS AND SAILS SA CC 60
NORTH SAILS (PTY) LTD 61
P LEGESSE 62
POPULAR CANVAS CC 63
PROTARP (PTY) LTD 64
REDEPLOYABLE CAMP SYSTEMS S A (PTY) LTD 66
ROYAL TENT INVESTMENTS (PTY) LTD 68
S AND S TARPAULIN AND NET CC 69
SOUTH AFRICAN MARQUEE AND TENT CC 71
SUPA SAILMAKERS (PTY) LTD 72
TENT PRO (PTY) LTD 73
TEXWISE CC 75
TS MANUFACTURING (PTY) LTD 77
ULLMAN SAILS (PTY) LTD 78
UNION CANVAS CC 80
VALE TRADERS CC 81
YELLOW STAR TRADING 41 CC 83