In 2004, total outbound shipments increased 20 percent from 3.5 billion to 4.2 billion pieces. Exports to the United States and the European Union increased in the first quarter of this year, but were down 17 percent overall despite quota elimination as a recent government-imposed tax affected growth in low-value products.

Apart from this, the US has imposed a safeguard on imports of China-made panties and those on bras may be reimposed following a surge in shipments in the months after quotas were eliminated at the beginning of the year.

Many women's undergarment suppliers in China also offer models for men, and some produce swimwear as well. This report features suppliers that focus mainly on women's undergarments, the production of which generally accounts for more than 50 percent of their total output. This report also profiles major women's undergarment suppliers in China that contract manufacture for established international brands such as Wacoal, Victoria's Secret and La Perla.

These suppliers export bras, panties, girdles, slips and camisoles. Most are offered separately but some are shipped in sets. All these products are included in this report.

Almost all women's undergarment manufacturers produce panties and bras, and there are some that specialize in just one line. More than 60 percent of suppliers featured in this report produce all three kinds of women's undergarments for export, and more than 50 percent have bras as their main product line.

The Products & Prices section in this report discusses the main features of each type of women's undergarment and its price range. It also explains the differences between low-end, midrange and high-end models in each product category.

Product development and design focus are discussed in the R&D/design section, while the Materials & Components module details the main fabrics used by China makers.

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