According to provisional apparel import statistics (including apparel accessories), as compiled by The Japan Textiles Importers Association based on Ministry of Finance trade statistics, 2019 imports decreased by 3.1% from the previous year to 3,106.77 billion yen.
In terms of weight, imports decreased by 0.8% to 1.07 million tons.
China’s share in the total import value decreased below the 60% line to 57.0%, and its share was 62.3% in terms of ton.
Imports from China fell 7.8% in value to 1,770.15 billion yen, and declined by 4.6% in weight to 668,460 tons. Meanwhile, imports from the ASEAN region grew by 4.6% in value to 920.53 billion yen, and by 6.7% in weight to 306,938 tons, with its share growing steadily to 29.6% in value and 28.6% in tons. ASEAN’s share is approaching 30%, and even on a monthly basis, its share in value exceeded 30% during October-December 2019. Amid the U.S.-China trade conflict, the acceleration of the shift to ASEAN was reflected in the statistics.
With the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that came into effect in February 2019, imports from the EU increased by 3.3% in value to 165.83 billion yen, but in terms of weight, imports decreased by 1.8% to 4,832 tons.
In terms of import value, Vietnam ranked second (up 5.4% to 477.17 billion yen), followed by Bangladesh (up 2.8% to 127.90 billion yen) and Cambodia (up 6.3% to 125.64 billion yen). Myanmar rose to fifth place with a 12.1% growth to 113.15 billion yen.
