In the first month of 2009, Thailand textile and garment industry imported US $56.7 million worth of textile fibres for local production, representing a year–on–year reduction of 35.2 percent, said so an official source of Thailand Textile Institute.
Among all fibre suppliers of Thailand, US remained the biggest with imports totaling $18.7 million, a decline of 35.74 percent, while imports from China added up to $2.8 million, up 9.45 percent and Japan $1.8 million, down 35.71 percent.
Fibres imports turnover from ASEAN and EU regions stood at $1.5 million and $0.4 million respectively. Thailand also imported fibres from Brazil worth $8.3 million, up 3.11 percent and Australia $5.8 million, down 37.3 percent.