According to Japanese textile and apparel export statistics, as compiled by the Japan Textiles Exporters Association based on Ministry of Finance trade statistics, the export value of textiles and apparel in May 2020 dropped 26% compared to the same month of last year to US$441.46 million.
Exports decreased for textile fibers, yarns and woven and knitted fabrics, while exports of nonwoven fabrics increased in volume but decreased in value.
May exports of textile fibers fell 41% in volume to 10,792 tons. Exports of rayon staple fiber dropped 77%, along with those of acrylic staple fiber by 55%. Exports of polyester staple fiber grew by 16% quantitatively but decreased by 2% in value.
Yarn exports fell 41% in volume to 5,443 tons, with those of rayon filament yarn declining by 60%, nylon filament yarn by 40% and polyester filament yarn by 30%.
May exports of woven and knitted fabrics dropped 28% to 46.93 million square meters. Exports of nylon filament fabrics decreased by 17% to 5.92 million square meters, together with those of polyester filament fabrics by 25% to 13.34 million square meters.
Exports of nonwoven fabrics grew 68% to 114.91 million square meters.
As for the export value by destination, May exports to East Asia fell 23% to US$328.26 million. Exports to China dropped 22% to US$147.12 million. Exports to Vietnam, the second largest destination, declined by 18% to US$61.44 million.
Textile and apparel exports during the first five months of this year declined by 9% year-on-year to US$2,825.50 million.
(Refer to table in Statistics section.)