Although, the country’s textile exports were almost stable, but the product mix changed noticeably. Yarn exports rose **.** per cent year on year to $***.** million, increasing their share of total textile exports to **.** per cent from **.** per cent a year earlier. In contrast, fibre exports fell **.** per cent to $**.** million, reducing their share to **.** per cent from **.** per cent. Fabric exports slipped *.** per cent to $***.** million but remained the largest export category with a **.** per cent share.
The longer-term trend reinforces the shift. Fabric accounted for **.** per cent of Malaysia**;s textile exports in **** before rising to **.** per cent in **** and settling at **.** per cent in the first four months of ****. Fibre**;s share declined steadily from **.** per cent in **** to **.** per cent in **** and **.** per cent in January-April ****. Yarn**;s share, after easing to **.** per cent in ****, recovered to its highest level in the three-year period at **.** per cent.
Import data point to a similar shift in downstream activity. Out of total textile imports of $***.** million, yarn imports recorded the strongest growth, rising **.** per cent to $**.** million and lifting their share to **.** per cent from **.** per cent a year earlier. Fabric imports were broadly unchanged at $***.** million, while fibre imports edged down *.** per cent to $***.** million, as per TexPro.
