Chinese silk clothing exports grew 8.8 percent from its previous year to US $1.21 billion in 2011.

However, silk garments export volume surged around 300 percent to 312 million units, due to the rise in exports of low-value innerwear. Average unit price fell 72.8 percent to only $3.87 / unit.

Exports to the US stood at $460 million, to Hong Kong $122 million, to Japan $97 million, to Italy $68 million and to Germany it touched $62 million.

The highest export growth rate of 19.48 percent came from Germany, while Italy was the only country where silk apparel shipments declined 14.19 percent year-on-year.