China saw quicker growth in textile exports but slower rise in foreign sales of garments in the first five months of this year, said sources with the General Administration of Customs.

Between January and May, China exported 66.16 billion U.S. dollars worth of textiles and garments, a growth of 15.4 percent on the same period of last year.

The total included 26.07 billion U.S. dollars worth of textile products, up 26.3 percent, and 40.09 billion dollars worth of garments and accessories, up 9.3 percent.

The growth rate for textile exports was higher than the level for the whole of last year, whereas that for garments was nine percentage points lower than the year-earlier level.

In May alone, the nation's garment exports increased by a record-low rate of 1.08 percent to 8.59 billion U.S. dollars worth.

Industry insiders accredited the substantial slowdown to weak demand abroad, expediated appreciation of Chinese currency and higher production cost.

They added that the weak demand had affected cotton sector in China. The country imported 240,200 tons of cotton in May, a decrease of 23,200 tons, or 8.81 percent, from the previous months.