Taiwan’s cotton textile sector has seen its output stabilize over the past 15 to 20 months as exports to Mainland China have increased. Total 2006 cotton textile exports to the Mainland surged 51.5 percent to 131.264 million U.S. dollars, with 2007 exports continuing to expand, as many Taiwan-owned plants on the Mainland find it cheaper to import yarn or fabric instead of using local cotton or yarn.
Total cotton textile exports during the first five months of 2007 (January - May) grew an additional 29.7 percent to 63.898 million U.S. dollars. The strongest gains occurred in cotton yarn, both 100 percent and blend, increasing over 60 percent to nearly 37 million U.S. dollars. Growth in fabric exports has been slower, reaching nearly 27 million U.S. dollars. Most of the expansion in fabric exports occurred in heavyweight fabrics.
