SHANGHAI, Oct. 1 (Economic Daily·China Economic Net) - The export volume of Pakistan's textile industry was $1.07 billion in August, registering a decline of 15% year on year, and 21% month on month, figures from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed. In the same period, China's export of yarn, fabrics, and manufactured goods showed an year-on-year growth of 51.3%, according to data from General Administration of Customs, P.R.China.

Textile is one of the pillar industries of Pakistan and a major contributor to the country's export. After a long period of downturn, many are wondering when it will revive? China is a major supplier of textile raw materials for Pakistan, then what is the current status of textile cooperation between Chinese and Pakistani enterprises? Bearing these questions in mind, the reporter from Economic Daily·China Economic Net attended the 2020 Autumn Joint Exhibition of China National Textile and Apparel Council to look for answers.

Polyester fibre: shipping freight soar due to orders rebound from Pakistani manufacturers

"We are competing to export [to Pakistan] as the supply is falling short of the demand," said Shi Qiwen, salesman from the Chinese textile company Fujian Jinxing Group. "Export orders declined dramatically in the first half of this year, and it bounced in the recent two months with more orders placed than the same period of last year. It may be a result of a long-time shutdown of business [due to the Covid-19]," Shi Qiwen explained to CEN reporter.

Shi Qiwen, salesman from Fujian Jinxing Group in an interview with China Economic Net [Photo/Zhang Peng]

Sea transport is mainly adopted for exporting goods to Pakistan, and when the sea route is overburdened by the "back-bouncing orders", shipping freight can rise sharply. Shi Qiwen said, "the number of containers sailed out is more than that of returned is another reason for the higher fare. And the approaching national holiday in China only catalyzes such phenomenon. "

Cotton yarn: order from Europe recovers with high demand for 40s & 60s yarn

Huang Xifeng, sales manager of Litai Xingshi Holding Company in an interview with China Economic Net [Photo/Zhang Peng]

Huang Xifeng, sales manager of Litai Xingshi Holding Company told CEN reporter that things got better after July. "Pakistan has been getting many orders from Turkey and other European countries, and home textile and grey cloth are their favorite. In this condition, there is a huge demand for cotton yarn, especially 40s and 60s yarn."

As for the quantity of cotton yarn exported to Pakistan, Huang Xifeng added, "Each month our company exports 10 to 20 containers of cotton yarn to Pakistan, with each carrying 20 tons of 40s yarn. While the finer 60s yarn takes longer time to manufacture and, of such kind we could only produce 500 or 600 tons per month, an output smaller than other types. And of all the production, half is exported to Pakistan."

Salesman of China Resources Textiles (Holdings) Co., Ltd. also mentioned that Pakistan is the leading import partner of their company in terms of cotton yarn of high counts. "Orders began to increase from July, and August and September have seen container shipment set out to Pakistan," they noted, adding that 1 to 2 containers are exported per day, and each container carries 20 tons of cargo.

Demand for Viscose Staple Fiber（VSF）increased in July, August; to fully recover in 2021

Xu Leilei, salesperson form CHTC Helon (Weifang) New Materials Co., Ltd. in an interview with China Economic Net [Photo/Li Fan]

"The European and American markets have witnessed poor demand this year, so did Pakistan's. We kept getting quotations, but in fact the trade volume shrank by 70 to 80 percent from January to August. There were signs of improvement in July and August, but it is not expected to return to normal until next year," Xu Leilei, salesperson form CHTC Helon (Weifang) New Materials Co., Ltd. told China Economic Net.

Spandex export up 35% YOY from January to August; Pakistani clients and orders on the rise

"[Our company's] export volume increased by about 35 percent from January to August on a year-over-year basis. It is on an upward trend," said Zhou Feiyan, marketing manager form Lianyungang Duzhongxin Aoshen Spandex Co., Ltd. Earlier in April and May, the company took a major blow in the business because it mainly exports spandex to Turkey, Pakistan, Mexico, Bangladesh and other foreign countries. "But since we have fostered a deep mutual trust with some of the clients, our export volume gradually increased afterwards."

Marketing manager Zhou Feiyan (right) and foreign trade salesperson Mao Meng (left) form Lianyungang Duzhongxin Aoshen Spandex Co., Ltd. in an interview with China Economic Net [Photo/Li Fan]

"Currently, we export around 20 tons of spandex to Pakistan per month, and Pakistani clients, orders are on the rise every month," foreign trade salesperson Mao Meng from Lianyungang Duzhongxin Aoshen Spandex Co., Ltd. said.