Japan's imports of cotton yarns and threads were down more than 9% in volume terms in 2004 to 24,854 tons.
Thanks to a nearly 8% rise in average unit prices, imports were only down 2% in yen terms.
The rise in the yen against the US dollar probably limited the decline in cotton yarn imports in the past year.
Pakistan remained the largest supplier in volume terms with 26.30% of the market, before China and Indonesia.
Shipments from Pakistan fell nearly 8% while imports from China and Indonesia were down 6% and 14% in volume terms, respectively.
Shipments from Thailand were down 25% with its share of the import market falling to 5% in volume terms.
Hong Kong's exports of cotton yarns to Japan also rose, but less significantly.
Pakistan continues offering the lowest CIF prices with an average level of 233 yen per kilo (US$2.5 per kilo).
The Japanese market clearly declined at the end of the year with total imports of cotton yarns falling nearly 18% in December from the same month of 2003.
Imports from China were down 31% while India and Pakistan were gaining new market shares although shipments from the two countries slightly declined.
