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

摘要

China continued to be the largest producer and exporter of textiles and clothing in the world in 2012. Furthermore, its share of world textile and clothing exports rose to 36.0%. Chinese textile and clothing export growth slowed to 2.8% during the year but during January-August 2013 it picked up to 12.9%. The slowdown in 2012 was due primarily to a decline in exports to the EU. As a result, the USA became China's largest export market. Meanwhile, textile and clothing production in China continued to grow at a strong pace in 2012 and during January-July 2013 it increased even further. In Hong Kong, domestic exports and re-exports of textiles and clothing declined in 2012 and during January-July 2013. However, domestic exports fell at a much steeper rate and, as a result, the share of re-exports in total textile and clothing exports reached an overwhelming 98.8%. Hong Kong's textile and clothing production continued to decline in 2012, as did manufacturing employment.