In August, Taiwan's cotton yarn exports were weak at 4,297 tons, while imports showed additional strength at 2,897 tons. Year-to-date cotton yarn export shipments remain up 15.7 percent at 40,715.3 tons. Exports to the Mainland, the top export destination, is being maintained and are up 32.4 percent year-to-date at 23,024.4 tons. Exports to Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea have also expanded. The August export weakness was linked to a sharp decline in shipments to Hong Kong, which dropped 32.7 percent to only 991 tons, while year-to-date shipments are down 10.6 percent. Until 2006, Hong Kong was the largest market for Taiwan's cotton yarn exports.

Taiwan's import growth is being driven by a surge in shipments from India. August imports increased 31.4 percent to 1,313 tons, while year-to-date imports are up 50.9 percent at 9,673,492 tons, which is nearly 50 percent of the total import volume.