In the first four months of this year, my country’s cumulative apparel exports experienced negative growth for the first time in nearly six years, facing greater downward pressure. According to customs statistics, from January to April, China’s apparel exports totaled US$46.25 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 4.2%. Due to the impact of factors such as the continuous rise in labor and related costs, the transfer of industries and orders, the appreciation of the RMB against major currencies such as the euro and the yen, and the slow recovery of the international market, my country’s textile and apparel exports are facing multiple pressures this year. The downward trend is obvious and the situation is not optimistic.
1. Except for the United States, all other major export markets declined
From January to April, exports to the EU experienced a sharper decline, with exports amounting to US$10.12 billion, a decrease of 7.5%, accounting for 21.9%. The growth rate of exports to the United States has slowed down compared with the first few months of this year, with exports amounting to US$8.67 billion, an increase of 3.8%, accounting for 18.7%. Exports to Japan continued to show negative growth, with export volume reaching US$5.58 billion, a decrease of 11.4%, accounting for 12.1%. Exports to ASEAN also turned from increase to decrease, with export volume reaching US$3.87 billion, down 2.4%, accounting for 8.4%. Exports to Russia fell sharply, with export value reaching US$1.22 billion, down 41.6%. In addition, exports to Brazil grew rapidly, up 40.2%; exports to Hong Kong declined rapidly, down 21.5%.
2. The growth of woven garments has slowed down, and the decline of knitted garments has been larger
From January to April, woven garment exports reached US$20.85 billion, an increase of 1.6%, and the export volume increased by 9.1%. Knitted apparel exports were US$19.03 billion, down 11.1%, and export volume fell 11%. Fur leather apparel exports were US$280 million, down 26.9%. In terms of commodity materials, cotton garment exports were US$17.14 billion, down 9.7%; chemical fiber garment exports were US$17.37 billion, down slightly by 0.3%.
3. Among the top five export provinces and cities, only Guangdong maintains growth
Among the top five provinces and cities in apparel exports, Guangdong ranks first, with an export volume of US$9.71 billion, an increase of US$1.53 billion. The exports of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Shanghai all declined, with export amounts of US$8.29, 6.26, 4.24, and 3.58 billion US dollars respectively. In addition, the export volume of Chongqing and Qinghai grew rapidly, with increases of 104.4% and 311.7% respectively. The export volume of Heilongjiang, Ningxia, and Guizhou declined rapidly, with the decline rate exceeding 60%.
