Experts at the ‘Textile roundtable forum on professional market’ held in Guangzhou International Textile City on April 8, 2007, predicted that textile and garment exports to major markets, like the US, Japan, EU, will decline 2-5 percent this year, due to the increase of production cost.

According to Chen, Secretary General of the Garment Association of Fuzhou, RMB appreciation has put exports of garment makers in Fujian under great pressure. Increasing cost of materials and human resources make clothing exports even worse.

Chang, director of marketing department from Fuzhou Hongda Textile Ltd, said, since March this year, fabric dyeing cost alone has jumped 300 yuan per ton.

Sources report that since the beginning of this year, prices of garment fabrics, clothing accessories have been raised by average 20 percent, further pressurizing exports and domestic sales.