China News Agency, Beijing, January 13th (Reporter Yan Xiaohong) The latest statistics show that China's textile and apparel export growth rate in December 2009 increased from negative to positive. Industry insiders predict that China's textile and apparel industry exports will tend to improve in 2010, and the annual growth rate is expected to be between 5 to 10%, and the growth rate in the first quarter is expected to reach double digits. Domestic sales will continue to be the highlight of China's clothing consumption.

According to the export data released by the General Administration of Customs today, China's textile exports have gradually improved since September 2009, achieving the first positive growth of the year in November and a substantial increase in December. Driven by the positive growth rate in December, the decline in exports for the whole year of 2009 remained within 10%.

Industry analysts pointed out that in 2009, China's textile and apparel industry's exports rose amidst turbulence, but in 2009, the industry's domestic sales growth rate repeatedly hit record highs, exceeding market expectations. It is expected that China's export-oriented textile enterprises will slowly recover in 2010, and the export of the textile and apparel industry will tend to improve, but the extent will not be too large; and in the context of moderate inflation, the industry’s domestic sales is still expected to be strong, and it is expected that in 2010 The growth rate of China's textile industry is expected to reach more than 20% in 2010, of which domestic sales will continue to be the highlight of China's clothing consumption.