KUNSHAN: The Chinese textile and garment industry has started sprouting green shoots of recovery even as it grapples with an acute labor shortage, riding largely on the revitalization plan charted by the government for the sector.

"Order declines from Europe and the United States have eased in the last two months, after recording an over 20 percent fall in the first few months of this year," said Shen Xiaoyang, a senior official of Changzhou Dahua IMP&EXP (Group) Co.

Shen, however, said the recent pickup was still not enough to offset the sharp falls earlier this year, and the company may still post negative growth for the full year.