China International Trade Fair: Textile And Clothing Transactions Reached US $1.245 Billion

"When the Premier came yesterday (4th), I said that so many people lost their jobs in this industry and the market. The first round was to lose their jobs, and the second round was to hurt the competitiveness of enterprises." Zhang Xiaoji, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and minister of the Department of Foreign Economic Research of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said. In Zhang Xiaoji's view, the importance of maintaining the growth of foreign trade goes without saying. Yesterday, after the panel discussion at the second session of the 11th CPPCC National Committee, Zhang Xiaoji told the First Financial Daily that protecting the export market and enterprises is to ensure employment. Zhang Xiaoji further said that when Premier Wen attended the Economic and Agricultural Joint Group Meeting of the CPPCC on the 4th, he also talked about the importance of "protecting foreign trade", and emphasized that protecting enterprises and employment is the basis for expanding domestic demand. Market diversification In the face of the severe situation of rapidly shrinking external demand and rising international trade protectionism, it is not easy to achieve stable growth of exports. According to the statistics of the General Administration of Customs, China's total import and export value in January 2009 was US $141.8 billion, down 29% year on year, of which the export value was US $90.45 billion, down 17.5% year on year. This year's East China Import and Export Commodities Fair (hereinafter referred to as "the Fair") made many exhibitors feel the cold current of the financial crisis. As one of the "barometers of the international market", the total export turnover of the just concluded 19th China International Trade Fair was 2.24 billion US dollars, down 39.06% from the previous session. Among them, the turnover of textile and clothing was 1.245 billion US dollars, 32.47% lower than that of the previous session; The turnover of light industry and technology was $898 million, down 43.67% from the previous session. The turnover of other commodities reached US $97.86 million, down 59.13% from the previous session. "Forty percent of the old customers have come here, and all the new customers have come here to have a look and have not placed an order," Huo Yingzhu, chairman of Inner Mongolia Guangye Textile Co., Ltd., told our reporter. Xu Yuhong, manager of the fourth business department of Shandong Haijin International Trade Co., Ltd., said that the turnover of this China Trade Fair was 30% lower than before. At present, nearly 60% of China's exports directly or indirectly face the markets of the United States, the European Union and Japan. Consolidating and stabilizing these traditional markets is the basis for diversification of export markets. However, demand in these three economies has shrunk sharply. According to statistics, the largest number of transactions at this China International Trade Fair was in Japan, with a turnover of 656.89 million US dollars, down 27.53% from the previous session; The EU ranked second with a turnover of 524.36 million US dollars, down 40.36% from the previous session; The US ranked third with a turnover of US $310.57 million, down 46.70% from the previous session. On the 4th, Wei Jianguo, former vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce, said in the group discussion of the Economic Group 32 of the Second Session of the 11th CPPCC National Committee that from the perspective of emerging markets, Latin America, Africa and some surrounding countries still have great potential and should vigorously explore. "For example, Africa needs 89 million electric fans a year, more than 10 million refrigerators, and only 30 million of our household appliances in the countryside. If we can open the African market, there is still potential for electric motorcycles, bags, shoes and hats." During the period of the Seventh Five Year Plan, the export market diversification strategy was put forward and officially launched during the period of the Eighth Five Year Plan. The China Trade Fair has also done a lot of work in developing emerging markets, especially printing invitation letters in Japanese for Japanese businessmen to read. In addition to Japanese and Korean versions, the investment attraction website has also added Arabic versions to facilitate customers in the Middle East. In addition, it has also added investment attraction agency outlets in Thailand, India, South Korea and Singapore. However, the effect does not seem to have emerged. Liang Wenqin, general manager of Shanghai Hongrui Garment Co., Ltd., told reporters that orders were 1/3 less last year. But he is not in a hurry to explore emerging markets. "The raw materials of these garments are more acceptable to European and American people, and the market is mature. If you want to explore emerging markets such as Africa and the Middle East, there must be a certain period of market cultivation." Win by quality Wang Yongzheng, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, vice chairman of Tianjin Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Yongzheng Tailor Shop Group, told China Business News that despite the spread of the financial crisis, Yongzheng Tailor Shop Group has not lost orders from European and American customers. "Our products do not rely on mass production to win, but on high technology and high craftsmanship, which is irreplaceable," Wang Yongzheng said. In Wang Yongzheng's opinion, the introduction of the Plan for the Adjustment and Revitalization of the Textile Industry is very timely. Although the textile and clothing industry is a relatively traditional labor-intensive industry, this industry has also undertaken a large number of jobs. "We need not only high-end industries, but also basic labor-intensive industries to coexist and grow together." Wang Yongzheng said, "Yongzheng is also constantly improving its technology in the field of labor-intensive low-end industries." Information from this China International Trade Fair also said that the brand products of this exhibition accounted for a large proportion. Among them, there are more than 60 Chinese famous brand export commodities that have been cultivated and supported by the Ministry of Commerce, nearly 700 enterprises and brand commodities that belong to provincial and municipal export famous brands, and more than 20000 commodities of new products, new styles and new technologies and new processes have been exhibited. However, for many enterprises participating in the exhibition, it is not easy to upgrade the product level and shape the brand. Zhou Junping, Business Department of Jianjian Group, told reporters that the clothes they produced were mainly mid-range products, and now they do not intend to turn into high-end products with higher added value. "During the economic crisis, a lot of high-end demand will turn into low-end demand, and we have not done high-end market, so it is not a good time to do it rashly." He said that the company's strategy is to respond to changes with unchanged. Many enterprises have also expressed concern about the shift from export to domestic sales to meet domestic demand to expand sales. "The way of export sales is completely different from that of domestic sales, which must be promoted slowly and steadily." Cai Caifeng, a staff member of the business department of Huzhou New Century International Trade Co., Ltd., said that it would be very difficult because of lack of experience and channels. Lv Bo, deputy director of the World Economic and Trade Research Department of the Ministry of Commerce, suggested that for those enterprises with good industrial foundation and good operation, they could try to improve their production chain and then develop their own markets. Those enterprises that only produce parts can try to connect with domestic enterprises. In order to ease the pressure on enterprises, since August last year, the state has raised the export tax rebate rate of some commodities five times, involving nearly 4000 products, of which more than 160 have reached 17%, and the export tax rebate rate of textile products has also been raised to 15%.     For more shoes and hats investment promotion information, click here to enter   Editor in charge: Wang Xiaonan