Japan’s apparel import value has dipped by 1.19 per cent as the country imported apparels worth $ 6.62 billion as against $6.70 billion in the corresponding period last year. Unit prices of imported apparels remained the same as compared to last year which was $3.98 per kg of apparel shipment. This falling quantity helped the country to keep the import value low further supported by the stability of the Japanese yen against the US dollar throughout the period.

Vietnam exports to Japan increased by 13.24 per cent in value terms, whereas India and Bangladesh too noted growth by 7.94 per cent and 4.73 per cent over the export values of prior year, respectively. Vietnam, India and Bangladesh exported apparels worth $907 million, $85.46 million and $266 million, respectively to Japan during the first three months of 2018. In volume terms, Vietnam surged by 16.72 per cent; India by 10.88 per cent and Bangladesh increased by 7.39 per cent on Y-o-Y basis.