Exports of cotton fabrics indicated a relatively flat trend pattern from 2010-2018

Exports remain flat
Exports of cotton fabrics indicated a relatively flat trend pattern from 2010-2018. The total exports of woven fabrics of cotton in 2018 totaled 2.2 billion sq. mt, leveling off at the previous year. China was the major exporter with 56 per cent of the total exports. It was distantly followed by Pakistan with exports of 422 million sq. mt, India with exports of 118 million sq. mt. and Turkey with exports 109 million sq. mt. Together, these three countries generated a 29 per cent share of total exports.

Import of cotton woven fabrics in Asia increased 4.9 per cent in 2018 with the region importing approximately 2.1 billion sq. mt. of fabrics against the previous year. The total volume of imports increased at an average annual rate of +2.1 per cent over the period from 2007 to 2018 with the pace of growth being most pronounced in 2017 when imports increased by 42 per cent year-to-year.

Bangladesh was the topmost importer of cotton woven fabrics in Asia, with volume of imports reaching 873 million sq. mt, nearly 42 per cent of the total imports in 2018. Vietnam followed with 12 per cent share of total imports, China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Cambodia and Turkey made up the list.