In 2023, China’s cotton yarn imports from Pakistan surged by 46.7 per cent to a record high of $695.62 million, as per reports by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textile and Apparel (CCCT). 

In its recent report, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) attributed this import surge to a sharp rise in energy prices coupled with interruptions in power and gas supply which led to over a thousand textile factories halting production. 

According to CCCT, the import surge was a result of the substantial price gap between domestic and foreign cotton yarns, particularly evident after the second quarter of the year. This discrepancy motivated importers to increase their orders, further driving up imports.

In December 2023, China’s cotton yarn imports from India, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan increased substantially by 243.2 per cent 351.1 per cent, and 867.1per cent, respectively. Its cotton yarn imports from Pakistan alone accounted for 15.8 per cent of China’s total imports in this category throughout the year.

As per statistics from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), the total value of yarn imports and exports in 2023 amounted to $19.68 billion, reflecting a 2.9 per cent decrease compared to the previous year. While exports declined by 8.6 per cent to $13.7 billion, imports rose by 13.2 cent to $5.98 billion. 

Import quantities also increased by 32.6 per cent to 2.043 million tons.

Cotton yarn remains a crucial category among China's yarn imports, constituting 70 per cent of the total and representing 24 per cent of textile and clothing imports. 

The demand for imported cotton and cotton yarn in China shows no signs of slowing down, with cumulative imports reaching 1.687 million tons in 2023, marking a significant 43.4 per cent increase compared to the previous year.