Data released by Japan Textile Importers Association reveals that the value of apparel imports made by Japan in August 2013 increased by 21.4 per cent year-on-year to 280,732 million yen. This data is based on the Ministry of Finance trade statistics. August was the fifth consecutive month when Japan’s apparel imports increased both in terms of value and volume. Japan’s garment imports from Asean nations shot up by 45.3 per cent to 41, 681 million yen in August, while volume grew by 19.4 per cent to 50.639 million units. Among Asean countries, Japan’s clothing imports from Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar showed an increase.
In 2012, Japan’s total clothing imports were valued at US$ 32.073 billion, compared to imports of $31.110 billion and $25.262 billion made in 2011 and 2010 respectively, according to relevant data. China was the largest supplier of apparels to Japan in August with 300.513 million units, almost same as the quantity supplied during the corresponding period of last year. The value of Japan’s apparel imports from China rose by 16.5 per cent to 211,992 million yen, during the month.
