The Shanghai New Union Textra Import and Export Co says, Chinese textiles and apparel exporters have taken a heavy hit from COVID-19, with most international orders postponed and profits expected to slump around 50 percent. The company reported no new orders, while deliveries of some orders have been postponed. It noted that prospects for the second half are also very pessimistic. The severe situation is more apparent in Keqiao District in East China's Zhejiang Province, dubbed the international textiles capital.

The company currently holds overseas orders for 500,000 to 600,000 garments, but he faces the dilemma of whether or not to carry out the orders. It exported a 20-foot-equivalent-unit (TEU) of clothes every one to three days before the virus, but now it only exports 1 TEU every one to two weeks.

According to a report from the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, China's textiles industry has seen overseas orders canceled on a large-scale as the global situation deteriorates, and domestic machinery, auto and home appliance exports may also be impacted in the future.

Faced with this plight, some have supported favorable policies like a low interest rate to avoid credit risks, but many have chosen to rely on themselves. Some apparel exporters that have had no orders are idling employees and paying minimum salaries.