Statistics released by China Customs showed that total imp. & exp. value of China’s foreign trade recorded U.S. dollar 647.847 billion in Jan.-May. 2006, increasing 23.90% compared with the same period of last year. Among them, export was 347.32 billion dollars, increasing 25.70%; while import was 300.527 billion dollars, increasing 22.00%. Trade surplus was 46.793 billion dollars.

According to official statistics made by China Customs, China´s total imp. & exp. value of textile and apparel in Jan.-May. 2006 reached 57.736 billion dollars, increasing 22.05% compared with the same period of last year, and taking up 8.91% of China gross imp.& exp. value of foreign trade. Gross export value of textile and apparel in China was 50.787 billion dollars, increasing 24.55% compared with the same period of last year, and taking up 14.62% of gross export value of foreign trade in China. Among them, textile export was 19.88 billion dollars, increasing 20.47% compared with the same period of last year; and apparel export was 30.908 billion dollars, increasing 27.32% compared with the same period of last year. Gross import value of textile and apparel reached 6.949 billion dollars, up 6.47% compared with the same period of last year, and taking up 2.31% of gross import value of foreign trade in China. Among them, textile import was 6.303 billion dollars, increasing 4.485% compared with the same period of last year, and apparel import was 0.645 billion dollars, increasing 30.71% compared with the same period of last year. The favorable balance of textile and apparel trade reached 43.838 billion dollars in Jan.-May.2006.

Among the main export countries and areas of textile and apparel, Japan was the top one, USA and Hong Kong PR China became the top two and three. In Jan. to Mar.2006, China export to Japan reached 4.441 billion dollars, increasing 12.28% compared with the same period of last year; export to USA was 3.903 billion dollars, increasing 6.47% compared with the same period of last year; export to Hong Kong PR China was up to 3.665 billion dollars, up 18.26% compared with the same period of last year. Total value of export to the above three countries and area reached 12.009 billion dollars, taking up 42.91% of total export of textile and apparel. Export to EU reached 4.471 billion dollars, increasing12.67% compared with the same period of last year. China´s export of textile and apparel in the first quarter 2006 to EU and USA reached 8.374 billion dollars, increasing 9.70% compared with the same period of last year, taking up 29.92% of China´s total export value of textile and apparel in the first quarter 2006. Export to other restricted countries reached 19.614 billion dollars, increasing 28.38% compared with the same period of last year, taking up 70.08% of China´s total export value of textile and apparel.

Among China´s main countries and areas to export to, Japan, USA and Hong Kong China PR became top three. In Jan. to May, 2006. China’s export as follows:

 To Japan was USD 7.520 billion dollars, up 10.57% compared with the same period of last yea, to USA 6.956 billion dollars, up 2.93% compared with the same period of last yea, to Hong Kong China PR 6.726 billion dollars, up 22.57% compared with the same period of last yea.

China’s total export to Japan, USA and Hong Kong China PR was 21.202 billion dollars, taking up 41.75 per cent of China’s total export of textile and apparel.

China´s export to EU reached USD 7.543 billion, up 11.74 per cent year-on-year. The statistics showed that China’s total export to EU and USA was 14.499 USD billion, up 7.33 per cent year-on-year, taking up 28.55 per cent of China’s total export. China’s export to non-EU, USA was 36.288 billion, up 33.07 per cent year-on-year, taking up 71.45 per cent of China’s total export of textile and apparel.

Among China´s main countries and areas to import from, Taiwan, China PR, Japan and Korea became top three. China´s import from Jan. to May, 2006 as follows: from Turkey, Japan and Korea were USD 1.301 billion, USD 1.198 billion and USD 1.031 billion respectively, up 1.42 per cent, down 4.73 and down 2.51 year-on-year respectively.