Japan’s textile and apparel imports in May were up 13 per cent year-on-year and 10.4 per cent month-on-month. Imports from China increased 15.3 per cent compared to the same period last year and 21 per cent compared to last month. Japan’s textile and apparel imports from n January to May were down 0.1 per cent from the same period last year and 2.7per cent compared with the same period in 2019.

Both in terms of import volume and value, Japan’s textile and apparel import demand recovered in May, showing a large rise, and Japan’s textile and apparel imports value from China was only slightly lower than that of the total imports.

In recent years, the proportion of import volume and value of Japan's textile and apparel imported from China in total imports has a certain seasonal rule, with the largest share in September or October every year, which gradually falls back to a relatively low level in April or May next year and then fluctuating. Japan's textile and apparel imports growth hit a new-2022 high because of the low base in the same period of 2020.