Economic Analysis of Home Textile Industry in the First Half of 2010

According to data from China's customs, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the China Home Textile Industry Association, the domestic textile industry demonstrated strong performance in the first five months of 2010. Despite challenges such as rising raw material prices and increasing production costs, including labor expenses, the sector achieved growth in output, sales, and exports. Improvements in production efficiency, along with higher profit margins and employment rates, reflected a positive trend across the industry. In terms of industrial operations, the 2,538 large-scale enterprises reported a total industrial output value of 79.058 billion yuan, marking a 26.25% year-on-year increase. Sales reached 77.57 billion yuan, up 26.4%, while export delivery value stood at 20.994 billion yuan, growing by 14.19%. Main business income totaled 66.702 billion yuan, an increase of 26.44%, and total profits reached 3.35 billion yuan, rising by 40.1%. Data from 15 industrial clusters analyzed by the China Home Textile Industry Association showed a total output value of 81.872 billion yuan, up 21.49% year-on-year. Sales value was 77.66 billion yuan, an 18.84% increase, and export delivery value reached 23.645 billion yuan, rising by 22.34%. Meanwhile, the 150 companies surveyed reported a total output value of 28.138 billion yuan, up 15.72%, with sales reaching 27.627 billion yuan, an increase of 15.96%. According to customs data, home textile exports amounted to 9.352 billion U.S. dollars between January and May 2010, representing a 24.28% year-on-year increase. This marked a significant jump compared to the same period in 2009, with a 36.23 percentage point rise. Imports of home textiles totaled 446 million U.S. dollars, up 10.09% year-on-year. Looking at key operating characteristics, production and sales volumes increased steadily, with a positive development trend. The ratio of production to sales for the 2,538 large-scale enterprises reached 98.12%, up 0.12 percentage points from the previous year. Profit margins improved by 0.43 percentage points, and operating quality continued to enhance. Exports saw a notable improvement, driven by diversified markets. While demand in Europe and the U.S. gradually recovered, exports to South America, ASEAN, and neighboring countries also showed strong growth, contributing to a more balanced international market. Investment activity remained robust, with fixed asset investment exceeding 5 million yuan reaching 5.669 billion yuan, up 15.44% year-on-year. This growth reflected increased investor confidence and supported industry development. Employment also improved, with the number of workers in the 2,538 enterprises rising by 1.14% to 387,300. The 15 industrial clusters reported a 3.4% increase in employees, while the 150 enterprises saw a 2.48% rise. Despite facing uncertainties such as rising production costs, exchange rate fluctuations, and trade protectionism, the industry is moving in the right direction. Government policies aimed at boosting domestic demand and improving people’s livelihoods, along with macroeconomic controls, are expected to further support the home textile market. External demand is also showing signs of recovery, and companies are actively adjusting their product structures and accelerating industrial upgrades. Overall, the domestic home textile industry experienced steady growth in 2010, with promising prospects for continued progress in production, sales, and exports.