For the first four months of this year, China’s apparel and accessories exports increased by 1.8 per cent. China’s exports of clothing and jewelry products to the EU dropped 12.1 per cent but exports to the US and Japan rose six per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively. Exports to these three markets account for 53.7 per cent of China’s clothing and jewelry products during the same period. Clothing products were mainly made of cotton.

China’s chemical fiber and industrial textiles exports had a 2.5 per cent year-on-year drop. Exports of natural fiber products to Vietnam saw a four per cent year-on-year growth. Exports of textile machinery to India and the UAE decreased consistently but there was growth in sales to Indonesia. Exports of polyester products to the European Union and the US showed a significant rise. Exports of chemical fibers and textiles for industrial use showed a rise of 28.6 per cent. Combined exports of the top 10 enterprise accounted for 4.8 per cent of the total export amount.

Over the year, the textile industry in China has seen a fall in exports and a rise in the cost of raw materials and payments. In addition, there was a sharp drop in the export of textile raw materials, products and textile machinery.