World textile and apparel trade and production trends: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, September 2009

30 pages, published in Issue 141, September 2009   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

Reflecting the global economic slowdown, Chinese textile and clothing exports were down by 11% in the first six months of 2009 after growing by 8.2% in 2008 and 18.9% in 2007. In the US market, in contrast to the general trend, sales of Chinese textiles and clothing in the first half of 2009 advanced by 3.9%. However, growth should have been faster, after the removal of safeguard quotas restricting US imports of several products from China at the end of the previous year. In the EU, imports from China grew by 12.7% in 2008 after the EU removed quotas at the end of 2007. In China?s domestic market, textile imports fell in 2008 although production by the Chinese industry grew moderately, and continued to grow in the first half of 2009.

In Hong Kong, domestic exports of textiles and clothing fell sharply in 2008 while the share of re-exports in total exports reached almost 90%. In the first half of 2009, sales of Hong Kong textiles and clothing in the US market plummeted by 76% as buyers switched to China following the elimination of quota restrictions.

In Japan, 2008 was a poor year for manufacturers and exporters. Exports to five of the country?s six largest markets fell?as did exports of nine of its ten biggest selling products. Furthermore, domestic wholesale sales of textile products fell for the 11th consecutive year. Domestic production, meanwhile, fell by 8.9% after declining by 5.4% in 2007 and 4.2% in 2006. Imports also declined.

South Korean textile and clothing exports fell by a modest 1.0% in 2008, due to a fall in clothing sales. Textile exports rose by a minimal 0.3% as weaker demand in the EU and the USA was offset by large increases in sales to Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Despite the drop in clothing exports, however, production continued to rise in 2008, as a result of vigorous domestic demand.

In Taiwan, export demand fell in 2008, having remained steady during 2005-07. The fall was due, in part, to the global economic slowdown?which led to a reduction in orders from China and other major Asian markets. Textile and clothing production, meanwhile, fell at a much more alarming rate. Textile output was down by 11.5% and clothing output by 19.2%. To combat falling sales, Taiwanese manufacturers have concentrated increasingly on the production of specialised textiles with higher added value.

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

• Summary
• China
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan

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• Prospects for the Textile and Garment Industry in China, (June 2009)
• World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends: USA and EU, ( November-December 2008)
• Prospects for the Textile and Garment Industry in Hong Kong, ( November-December 2008)
• World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends: China, South-East Asia and South Asia, ( September-October 2008)
• World textile and apparel trade and production trends, March-April 2008, (March-April 2008)

Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries ? and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues.
Reports in Textile Outlook International include:
	country profiles ? providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future.
	company profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations.
	trends in world textile and apparel trade and production ? taking into account current issues facing the industry ? such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more.
	trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing ? providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories.
	innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets.
So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing ? in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
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