Taiwan's imports of cotton yarns (HS 5205: containing 85% or more cotton by weight) rose more than 50% in January in volume terms to 4,246 tons.
After dramatically falling between the first months of 2003 and the first half of 2004, Taiwan's market for cotton yarns began recovering in July last year.
Imports surged 36% in August, 53% in September and 61% in October, in volume terms.
Monthly shipments to Taiwan were finally back to about 4,600 tons after falling as low as 2,400 tons.
Import prices were sharply down in the second half last year, declining from US$4 per kilo in June 2004 down to US$2.58 in December.
Prices slightly rose to US$2.63 in January, however (latest available data).
India continues having the largest share of the market but challengers in Pakistan and Indonesia are threatening its leadership.
Imports from India only rose 5% in January this year, compared with a jump of 195% in shipments from Pakistan and a 51% surge in imports from Indonesia.
India's share of Taiwan's import market fell to 40% in January as a result, against a 50% share in the full 2004, on average.
Prices of Indian cotton yarns remained relatively high at US$3.46 per kilo in January, compared with US$1.86 and US$2.42 for Pakistani and Indonesian yarns, respectively.
Taiwan's exports of cotton yarns rebounded in January, being up 69% from the same month last year after falling 32% in November and 10% in December.
Exports of cotton yarns had benefited from a surge in orders from May to August 2004 before falling in the following months.
Hong Kong and China are together accounting for 90% of total sales.
Demand from China rose 34% in volume terms in the past year before surging 176% in January.
Exports to Hong Kong sharply fell in the last quarter of 2004 before rebounding in the first month of 2005.
Prices of cotton yarns shipped to China clearly declined in the past months, from US$1.73 per kilo in August last year down to US$1.47 in January this year.
