Taiwan's exports of dyed polyester fabrics made from textured yarns (HS 540752) were down nearly 5% over the January-November period of 2004, reflecting a rise in shipments until May, followed by a double-digit decline in the second part of the year.
Exports still fell 12% in volume terms in November to 76 million square meters, from the same month of 2003.
Average unit prices rose from 64 US cents per square meter in February up to 75 cents in June, before declining to 65 cents in October.
Sales to Hong Kong were sharply lower in 2004, falling 23% over the January-November period in volume terms.
Shipments to Hong Kong even declined 36% in November with no sign of a possible rebound.
Hong Kong remains the primary destination of Taiwanese fabrics, however, with 17.60% of total exports in volume terms.
As already observed in the past years, Taiwan's polyester filament fabrics were more directly shipped to the PRC, with exports even surging 250% in the first months of the year.
Sales to China began dropping in volume terms the second part of the year, in sharp contrast.
They continued substantially rising in value terms, however, after Taiwan's unit prices were raised from 68 cents in February up to 89 cents in November.
Sales to a series of South American countries were also very strong in the past year, mainly thanks to shipments of lower-valued fabrics.
If exports to Brazil fell about 11%, shipments to Mexico and Colombia rose 30% and 38%, respectively. Exports to Argentina surged 156% at the same time.
Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates remained strong buyers of Taiwanese fabrics while sales to Vietnam began falling in the second half, reflecting relocation of capacities to the low-cost country.
