During January-July 2006, China imported 2098 rapier looms, increasing 66.64 percent from the same period of last year, with import value at US $93.31 million, up 48.67 percent.

The average import price was at $44500 per set, down 10.78 percent from last year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

The top five importers were Guangdong at 709 sets, up 56.86 percent; Shangdong with 402 sets, rise of 94.20 percent; Jiangsu with 312 sets, increasing 65.96 percent; Zhejiang imported 295 sets, surge of 41.83 percent; Hebei at 136 sets, 65.85 percent more than that in the same period last year.