-Overview of national fabric exports

From January to July 2014, the national fabric import and export volume was US$34.989 billion, a year-on-year increase of 1.93%. Among them, the export value was US$30.731 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.52%, and the export volume was 21.292 billion meters, a year-on-year increase of 1.51%. The average export unit price was 1.44 yuan/meter, a year-on-year increase of 1.99%. The import value was US$4.258 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 8.27%.
​1. Fabric exports grew slightly in July
In July 2014, national fabric exports totaled US$4.88 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.26%. This is the smallest single-month growth rate this year. Exports to Asia were US$2.965 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.48%, accounting for 60.75% of the total fabric exports to the world. Among them, sales to Iran, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and South Korea increased by 124%, 10.02%, 8.92% and 8.79% respectively. Exports to Africa increased by 20.54% year-on-year, of which exports to Egypt, Benin, Togo and South Africa increased by 68.08%, 41.49%, 27.16% and 21.81% respectively. Exports to Latin America increased by 11.43% year-on-year, of which Guatemala, Brazil and Mexico increased by 16.41%, 12.87% and 8.4% respectively. Exports to the EU increased by 0.39% year-on-year, of which exports to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom increased by 29.59% and 29.92% respectively.
2. Fabric exports show signs of weakness along the southeastern coast, while the central and western regions show strength
There are 31 provinces and cities in the country exporting fabrics, and exports of 13 provinces and cities declined. Only Zhejiang and Guangdong on the southeast coast increased their export value by 8.97% and 3.55% respectively year-on-year. The export value of Guangxi, Chongqing, Guizhou and Gansu in the central and western regions increased by 537%, 183%, 158% and 89.77% respectively year-on-year.
3. The export of ramie gauze has developed by leaps and bounds
From January to July 2014, the national ramie cloth export value was US$345 million, a year-on-year increase of 11.72%, which was 1.93% higher than the national fabric export average. The average export unit price was 4.43 yuan/meter, a year-on-year increase of 18.47%.
1. Ramie gauze exports are outstanding
After 2008, the export of ramie cloth has grown rapidly and is outstanding. In 2008, the export value was US$97.68 million. In 2013, the export value was US$540 million, an increase of 4.5 times in five years. During the same period, ramie yarn increased by 1.08 times, cotton cloth increased by 73%, cotton yarn increased by 28%, chemical fiber cloth increased by 79%, and woolen fabrics decreased by 97%.
In 2013, the average unit price of ramie cloth exports increased by 1.41 times compared with 2008; during the same period, ramie yarn increased by 78%, cotton cloth increased by 28%, cotton yarn increased by 33%, chemical fiber cloth increased by 22%, and woolen fabrics increased by 16%.
2. Market development has achieved results
In 2008, there were only 16 markets with ramie exports exceeding US$1 million, and the number reached 27 in 2013. Exports to Asia were US$50.35 million in 2008, reaching US$491 million in 2013, an increase of 8.75 times in five years; exports to Oceania were only US$13,000 in 2008, reaching US$1.79 million in 2013.
3. The export advantages of main producing areas appear
The top five provinces and cities for ramie cloth exports in 2008 were: Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu and Guangdong. Among them, Zhejiang’s export value was US$17.51 ​​million. Only the above five provinces in the country had an export value of US$10 million.
The top five provinces and cities for ramie cloth exports in 2013 were: Guangdong, Chongqing, Jiangxi, Sichuan and Hunan. Among them, Guangdong’s export value was US$173 million, and eight provinces across the country had export values ​​exceeding US$10 million.
4. The export of ramie cloth is relatively concentrated
In 2008, there were 347 companies exporting ramie cloth across the country, and only 19 companies had an export value of more than 1 million US dollars. The total amount accounted for 63.17% of the country’s total exports.
In 2013, a total of 380 companies exported ramie cloth across the country, 90 of which exported more than 1 million US dollars, and the total amount accounted for 92.63% of the country’s total exports. Among them, there are 10 companies with export amounts exceeding US$10 million, and the total amount accounts for 31.85% of the country’s total exports.
5. Private enterprises are the main force in exports
In 2008, the total export value of ramie cloth from 81 state-owned enterprises accounted for 33.25% of the country’s total exports; 43 foreign-funded enterprises accounted for 9.92%; and 223 private enterprises accounted for 56.83%.
In 2013, the total export value of ramie cloth from 62 state-owned enterprises accounted for 15.08% of the country’s total exports; 36 foreign-funded enterprises accounted for 4%; and 270 private enterprises accounted for 80.79%.
​3. Related links
　1. Exports of products subject to Turkish safeguard measures from January to July 2014
From January to July 2014, China’s textile and apparel exports to Turkey were US$1.464 billion, a year-on-year increase of 8.03%, accounting for 0.9% of China’s total global textile and apparel exports, ranking 29th in China’s single export market. Among them, the export value of products under safeguard measures was US$661 million, a year-on-year increase of 14.76%, accounting for 45.15% of China’s total textile and apparel exports to Turkey.
Among the products under safeguard measures, fabric exports were US$334 million, a year-on-year increase of 9.97%, accounting for 50.53% of China’s total exports of products under safeguard measures to Turkey. The export value of clothing was US$2.02, a year-on-year increase of 25.07%, accounting for 25.07% of China’s total exports of products under safeguard measures against Turkey.
2. Export of products under Indonesian safeguard measures
From January to July 2014, China’s textile and apparel exports to Indonesia were US$2.897 billion, a year-on-year increase of 17.09%, accounting for 1.78% of China’s total global textile and apparel exports. Ranked 15th in China’s single export market, among which, the export value of products (fabrics) subject to safeguard measures was US$24.63 million, a year-on-year decrease of 29.65%, accounting for 0.85% of China’s total textile and apparel exports to Indonesia.