From January to June 2019, China’s exports of textiles and garments to the United States were down 0.66 per cent year-on-year. Exports of China’s textiles to the United States were down 2.24 per cent year-on-year. Apparel exports to the US increased 0.11 per cent. Although the trade friction between China and the United States has escalated since May this year, the most important export market for China’s textiles and garments is still the United States.

From January to June this year, Chinese exports of textiles and garments to Japan declined 4.65 per cent year-on-year. Growth rate of garment exports to Japan fell by 6.11 per cent. China’s share of the imports of textiles and garments by Japan has dropped from 65 per cent in 2015 to 55 per cent in the first half of 2019.

But China’s exports of textiles and garments to Africa grew rapidly, achieving a year-on-year increase of 5.24 per cent. Especially this is true of textile exports to Africa, which increased by 10.06 per cent year-on-year. Exports of textiles to countries along the Belt and Road route were up 3.23 per cent year-on-year. Obviously the diversification of the Chinese textile industry’s export market is yielding results.