Recently, according to statistics from Jiangsu Nantong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Nantong region imported 552 batches of textile fabrics in 2013, totaling 1.2039 million meters, with a value of US$5.1771 million, a year-on-year increase of 15.00%, 21.66% and 3.11% respectively. The unit price was 4.30 US dollars/meter, a year-on-year decrease of 15.19%, generally showing the characteristics of multiple batches, small batches, and lower unit prices.
It is understood that Nantong’s imported fabrics are mainly cotton printed fabrics, cotton dyed fabrics and cotton yarn-dyed fabrics. The main importing countries are Japan and India. The import volume accounts for 56.89% and 11.68% of the entire trade respectively, and the value of the goods accounts for 56.89% and 11.68% respectively. 63.34% and 8.05% of the entire trade. The trading mode of imported fabrics is mainly processing with imported materials, and the import volume accounts for 82.98% of the entire trade. Most imported fabrics are processed into clothing, shoes and hats and sold back abroad.
According to analysis, the reasons for the increase in both volume and price of imported fabrics in Nantong are: first, foreign businessmen often specify procurement channels for fabrics as raw and auxiliary materials for their products; second, domestic textile fabrics cannot meet the special needs of some foreign businessmen’s products. requirements, while imported fabrics are often superior in terms of appearance, feel, performance, defects, drape, color, quality, etc. Third, small batches and multiple varieties of textile fabrics imported from abroad have more advantages than organized production or procurement domestically. Fourth, due to cost considerations, manufacturers import relatively low-priced fabrics from India and other countries.