China`s total import of cotton was 723,000 tons in the first four months of this year, tumbling 55 per cent from the same period of last year, according to the China Cotton Association (CCA).

The import in April was 215,000 tons, 45,000 tons or 17 per cent less from the previous month, and 275,500 tons or 56 per cent from the same period of last year.

The total import of cotton in the cotton year of 2006 (from September 2006 to April 2007) was 1.3378 million tons, down 50 per cent from the previous year.

China's cotton planting area is estimated to be 81 million mu (15 mu equal to one hectare) this year, about the same of last year, according to the CCA. The figure on the planting area under cotton from the National Bureau is 82.21 million mu, and that by the Ministry of Agriculture is 82 million mu.

According to CCA statistics, China's cotton output reached 6.73 million tons in 2006.

China's output of yarn was 1.61 million tons in April this year, up 1.3 per cent month on month and 21.2 per cent year on year. In the first four months output reached 5.78 million tons, up 20.4 per cent year on year.

Yarn output in the cotton year of 2006 (from September 2006 to April 2007) totaled 12.17 million tons, up 21.1 per cent year on year.

The country's total export of textiles and garments topped US$12.83 billion in April, up 60.9 per cent month on month, and up 15.2 per cent year on year.