Trends in World Textile and Clothing Trade

摘要

Growth in world textile and clothing trade slowed to 5.3% in 2005.The deceleration was not surprising as it followed exceptional increases of 11.9% in 2004 and 13.7% in 2003.These were the fastest growth rates witnessed since 1995,when trade also grew by 13.7%.Six trade flows involving Asia (excluding intra-Asian trade)grew at double-digit rates.But in the case of other flows,trade either grew in single digits or declined.Textile exports from Asia to North America and Europe,for example,increased by 20% and 19% respectively,while those to Africa rose by 14%.Intra-European textile trade,on the other hand,fell by 5%.In clothing,Asian exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)shot up by 27%,while those to Europe and North America rose by 17% and 15% respectively.At the same time,however,intra-North American trade and exports from South and Central America to North America both fell in value by 2%.The US textile and clothing trade deficit rose by another 7.4% in 2005 to US