the brazilian apparent consumption of industrial sewing machines is estimated at us$ 56 million in 1992, and is expected to increase by 6 per year in the next three years, as garment production grows from current us$ 19 billion to us$ 26 billion in 1995. in order to increase clothing production, local manufacturers will have to replace machinery. most of the machines in operation in brazil are first generation and over 10 years old. in 1991 the value of brazilian imports of weaving, dyeing, printing and sewing machines was us$ 173 million, of which us$ 51 million was for industrial sewing machines. u.s. exporters face strong competition from local manufacturers (producing mostly lockstitch machines) and foreign companies