According to statistics released from the Japan Spinners’ Association based on Ministry of Finance trade statistics, the nation’s imports of cotton yarns during January-June 2020 decreased by 8.3% year-on-year to 19,458 tons. Of this, imports of combed yarns fell 19.0% to 8,813 tons. In addition to the stagnant condition of the Japanese cotton yarn market, the coronavirus pandemic had an impact on business.
Cotton yarn imports from Indonesia fell 17.8% to 5,868 tons. Imports from India centering on combed yarns dropped 26.8% to 3,082 tons. Imports from China also dropped 24.9% to 1,017 tons.
Meanwhile, imports from Vietnam sharply increased by 23.2% to 3,708 tons. Vietnam has recently been increasing its presence as a supplier of cotton yarns to Japan.
Imports from Pakistan, mainly for application in towels, grew 7.8% to 3,797 tons.
First-half imports of cotton blended yarns fell 21.6% to 2,446 tons. Pakistan was the only major supplier posting an increase, up 1.1% to 474 tons.