Sales of China's textile industry are estimated at 1.22 trillion yuan (US$147 billion) in 2003, surging 24 percent over the previous year.  

Du Yuzhou, president of the China Association of Textile Industry, made the announcement on Friday at the National Conference on the Development and Reform of the Textile Industry.

The demand for clothes, household and industrial textile products on the domestic market was the major driving force for growth, Du said, adding the sales of these three categories were estimated to increase by 9.2 percent, 10 percent and 13 percent respectively last year.

The development of China's textile industry has benefited mainly from the booming domestic demand and technology innovation, said Du.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2004)