According to Chinese Customs, in the first quarter of 2008, total exports of knitwear and apparel reached nearly US $12.175 billion, an increase of 21.97 percent from the same time last year. This figure accounted for 31.62 percent of total textile and apparel exports of $38.511 billion.
Of which, knitwear exports were around $1.314 billion in Q1, a rise of 25.06 percent on year, accounted for 8.59 percent of total textile exports at $15.31 billion. From January to March total exports of apparel accounted for $10.861 billion, a year-on-year boost of 21.61 percent, accounted for 46.81 percent of total garment exports at US $23.201 billion.
During Q1, China had to spend nearly $686 million on knitwear and apparel, witnessing a growth of 6.80 percent from the same time last year, accounting for 16.77 percent of total textile and apparel imports of $4.091 billion.
Out of which, total knitwear import came up to $490 million, up by 1.37 percent from a year earlier, accounting for 13.76 percent of the total textile imports of $3.564 billion.
Similarly, nation expended almost $196 million on import of garments, rising by 23.38 percent, accounting for 37.07 percent of total apparel imports of $528 million.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - China