Statistics from the US Department of Commerce show, trade volume of silk goods registered a month-on-month decline of 6.77 per cent in May to reach $409 million. However, on a year-on-year basis, the trade volume grew by 113.48 percent, reports China Textiles. The import value declined by 7.01 per cent on a month-on-month basis to $357 million while on a year-on-year basis, it rose by 106.12 percent. The export value declined by 5.11 per cent month-on-month and increased by 182.2 per cent year-on-year to $52.283 million.

Silk imports declined by 18.16 per cent month-on-month while increasing by 86.27 per cent year-on-year to $867,100. The import volume declined 31.29 per cent month-on-month while increasing by 64.08 percent year-on-year to 16.41 ton. The value of these imports increased 20.62 per cent month-on-month to $18.6556 million 66.67 percent year-on-year.

The main sources of imports are China, Vietnam, India, Italy and Honduras The total proportion of the above five sources was 54.33 per cent. The value of silk exports declined by 44.09 per cent to $378,900 while the volume increased by 140.93 per cent year-on-year to 49.17 tonne. The value of silk and satin exports increased by 16.83 percent year-on-year; while the value of finished goods increased by70.71 percent year-on-year.

The main export markets included Mexico, Canada Honduras, El Salvador and Dominican Republic. These five markets accounted for 69.78 percent of the total exports.