Textile exports from China were up 18.9% in 2007 according to local reports, reaching US$171.17bn.

An official at the Ministry of Commerce told the country's Xinhua News Agency that textile trade with the United States went up 19.5%, while that to the 27 EU countries fell slightly.

Exports to Russia increased 105% on last year, while exports to South East Asia went up 50% and exports to the Middle East increased 47%.

According to the news report, developing countries in Asia and Africa have become "a major engine for export growth" too.