World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, 2010 edition

Chinese textile and clothing exports increased by 15.6% in the first four months of 2010 after declining by 10.1% in 2009. Chinese exports to the USA, in contrast to the general trend, rose by 4.1% in 2009 but those to the EU fell by 7.3% and to Hong Kong by 12.8%. Production in China grew at a good pace in 2009 and continued to increase in the first half of 2010.

In Hong Kong, domestic exports of textiles and clothing fell by a sharp 74.0% in 2009 and the share of re-exports in total exports reached an overwhelming 97.5%. Furthermore, during the first five months of 2010 domestic clothing exports alone were down by 49.4%. In the EU, imports of items produced in Hong Kong fell by 47.4% in 2009. In the USA, imports of such items plunged by 82.2%.

In Japan, 2009 was a poor year for manufacturers and exporters of textiles and clothing. Exports to each of the country’s ten largest markets fell—as did exports of its eight biggest selling products. Furthermore, domestic wholesale sales of textile products fell for the 12th consecutive year. Production fell by 18.7% after declining by 8.9% in 2008. Imports also declined.

South Korean textile and clothing exports fell by 13.0% in 2009, after holding up relatively well over the previous two years. Textile exports dropped by 12.1% while clothing exports were down by 19.5% as exporters continued to encounter considerable difficulties in the face of high production costs. Reflecting these falls, production declined in 2009 after increasing in the previous year.

In Taiwan, export demand fell for a second consecutive year in 2009 after remaining steady during 2005-07. The fall was due, in part, to the global economic slowdown—which led to a reduction in orders from the USA and the EU as well as from several major Asian markets. Textile and clothing production, meanwhile, fell for the ninth consecutive year.