SEOUL/LOS ANGELES – In a move widely seen as a strategic response to increasing global trade tensions, including U.S. tariff pressures, South Korea's Sae-A Trading, a subsidiary of Global Sae-A Group and one of the world's largest apparel manufacturing and export companies, has announced a significant acquisition in the Americas.
The company confirmed the acquisition of the El Salvador manufacturing operations of Swisstex and its U.S. local sales entity, Swisstex Direct, LLC. This follows a growing trend among textile and apparel manufacturers to secure long-term gains by expanding nearshore production capabilities in the U.S. and Central American regions.
Strategic Expansion in Performance Apparel
The acquisition is set to significantly enhance Sae-A Trading's competitive edge in the global sports and performance apparel market, an area where Swisstex has built a strong reputation. Swisstex, established in 1996 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, specializes in advanced fabric knitting, dyeing, and finishing. The acquired entities—Swisstex El Salvador and Unique El Salvador—along with the U.S. sales office, employ a total of 300 personnel. Sae-A Trading plans to maintain the existing management structure and production quality, ensuring seamless continuity for valued brand partners.
Swisstex boasts a vertically integrated production system encompassing knitting, dyeing, and finishing, which provides a one-stop solution for apparel production. Its use of advanced automation and eco-friendly systems has cemented its long-standing partnerships with major global brands, including Under Armour, Adidas, Nike, Oakley, and New Balance. By integrating these high-tech capabilities, Sae-A Trading aims to consistently provide world-class, functional products.
Bolstering the Americas Supply Chain
This latest transaction builds on Sae-A Trading's aggressive strategy to fortify its vertically integrated production system in North and Central America. It comes on the heels of the company’s successful 2024 acquisition of Tegra, a U.S. sportswear specialist with key operational entities in the U.S., Honduras, and El Salvador.
The synergy between the newly acquired Swisstex operations and Sae-A Tegra is expected to create a highly robust and specialized manufacturing network in the Western Hemisphere. Sae-A Trading, already a market leader with extensive global operations—including production facilities in countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti, El Salvador, Honduras, Vietnam, and Indonesia—is leveraging these Central American bases, which benefit from trade agreements such as CAFTA-DR (Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement), for duty-free access to the crucial U.S. market.
James Ha, CEO of Sae-A Trading, underscored the strategic importance of the deal: "This acquisition marks a crucial milestone in our strategy to expand our global footprint and reinforce our leadership in the industry. By integrating Swisstex's advanced production capabilities, we will better meet customer demand for innovative, high-quality apparel." He added that Sae-A will continue to invest in technology and automation to enhance efficiency and scale.
Keith Dartley, President of Swisstex Direct, commented on the alignment of values, stating, "Sae-A Trading's commitment to excellence and customer service aligns seamlessly with our own values, making them an ideal partner. We are confident this acquisition will be a win-win for our employees, customers, and stakeholders."
The expansion confirms the commitment of Global Sae-A Group to diversifying its business portfolio and securing its position as a dominant force in the global apparel supply chain, particularly through "nearshoring" strategies that mitigate geopolitical and logistical risks.
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