Influence of global supply chain disruptions to apparel industry in North Macedonia: secondary data evaluation from covid-19 and transport shocks time base

This paper examines the impact of global supply chain disruptions on the apparel production of textile sector in North Macedonia, with particular emphasis on the COVID-19 period and the subsequent transport and logistics shocks. The study is based on a quantitative approach and uses secondary monthly data for the period 2019–2024. The apparel production index is used as the dependent variable, while oil prices, container transport costs, textile input inflows, and dummy variables for crisis and shock periods are included as independent variables. The analysis applies descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression. The findings indicate that the hypotheses for statistically significant differences in production performance between pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis periods is being confirmed. The regression results show that textile input inflows have a positive and statistically significant effect on production, whereas the transport shock has a strong negative and statistically significant effect. Hypothesis based on individual effect of oil price change and price change of container transport for supply of input materials, gains partial support in descriptive statistics, graphical and correlational analysis, but they are not being confirmed completely at multiple regression model. The paper concludes that the apparel industry in North Macedonia is highly sensitive to disruptions in supply chain and transport, therefore for best performance of the apparel industry great accent needs to be stated on stability of the supply chain and ability to deal with transport shocks. For future endurance of this sector, we have to highlight the need for greater resilience, supplier diversification, better safety stock management and improved logistics risk management.
Keywords: Apparel industry in North Macedonia, COVID-19, Supply chain, Textile inputs,
Transport shocks