A jump in the third quarter exports shows China's feather and down industry has recovered from the impact of bird flu, or avian influenza, the China Daily reported Monday.

"The industry's performance is exciting," Yao Xiaoman, the China Feather and Down Association's secretary-general, was quoted as saying. "The negative impact of bird flu has been basically digested already."

The industry, which produces some 70 percent of the world's feather and down goods, chalked up exports of 1.2 billion US dollars from January to September, a 40 percent increase year on year.

The figure was very close to last year's total of 1.34 billion US dollars.

More encouragingly, China's exports of finished down bedding and apparel also saw a remarkable rise in the first nine months, signaling that the nation is getting stronger in pursuit of higher value-added exports, sources said.

From January to September, the nation exported a total of 923 million US dollars worth of finished products such as bedding, clothes and sleeping bags, reflecting an increase of 34 percent year on year and reversing the sluggish performance in the first half of the year. Among them, exports of down apparel increased about 41 percent on a yearly basis to stand at 568.4 million US dollars.

"We have gradually reduced reliance on exports of low-profit raw feather and down, and are developing in a sustainable way," said Yao.

Local manufacturers also gave a sigh of relief, after fears of international orders shrinking because of bird flu failed to materialize.

Since China reported its first case of avian flu on Jan. 27, nearly 9 million birds were culled before the country was given a clean bill of health on March 15.

Striking a note of caution, Yao wants local producers to give higher priority to brand-building and roll out bolder moves to sell their products in overseas markets.

"We should let the world know that many renowned foreign feather and down products are made in China," she said.

Commenting on widely predicted price hikes of down-filled coats this winter on the domestic market, Yao said she did not believe it would be a major concern to consumers.

"First of all, I don't think the price will go up too drastically," she said, suggesting that manufacturers might turn to alternative fillings to reduce costs.

"Even if the price rises, it will be moderate and acceptable," she suggested. "Coat sellers will not allow prices to increase to a degree that frightens off buyers."

Compared with price, quality should top consumer concerns, said Yao.