China’s Worsted Yarn & Fabric Exports Fall in 2006
Source: Australian Wool Innovation Limited Date: 2007-04-20
China’s textile and apparel exports grew strongly in 2006. Exports of chiefly wool products lifted in both volume and value terms in 2006, although at a less robust pace. Exports of worsted yarn and fabric were soft, while womenswear exports stood out as the strongest growth category.
Despite a strong year-on-year pick-up in December, China’s worsted yarn and fabric exports were lower in 2006 than in 2005, partly attributed to lower demand from the chief buyers, such as Hong Kong. However, both worsted yarn and fabric reported exceptionally strong year-on-year gains in December.
For the yarn sector, the monthly increase was mainly driven by better demand from Eastern Europe and South Asian countries, such as Russia, Syria (no imports in December 2005) and Pakistan. In addition, Japan, the second largest buyer of China’s worsted yarn, purchased more strongly in 2006.
Exports of worsted fabric to all of the top 5 export destinations showed considerable gains in December, softening the 2006 decline. In contrast, demand for woollen yarn and fabric was relatively buoyant compared to a year earlier. Carpet exports also reported a double digit increase in the same period.
In 2006, exports of both men’s and women’s wool-type apparel recorded double digit increases, with Japan, the United States and South Korea the top three destinations.
