According to data released by the General Administration of Customs on October 14, China’s textile and apparel exports totaled US$29.658 billion in September 2026, up 21.5% year-on-year and 3.8% month-on-month, reaching a level rarely seen for this time of year in recent years and exhibiting a notably counter‑seasonal growth pattern within the traditional export cycle.
By category, in September, textile exports—including yarns, fabrics, and related products—totaled US$14.241 billion, up 19.02% year on year; apparel and clothing accessories exports reached US$15.417 billion, a year-on-year increase of 23.89%. The growth rate of apparel outpaced that of textiles by approximately 4.9 percentage points, with the rebound in end‑product garment orders serving as the primary driver behind the month’s robust export expansion. From January to September, China’s cumulative exports of textiles and apparel amounted to US$232.957 billion, up 5.1% year on year. Specifically, textile exports totaled US$112.262 billion, up 5.44%, while apparel exports reached US$120.694 billion, up 4.78%. The cumulative growth rate widened further compared with the first eight months, underscoring the sector’s continued steady and improving performance.
From a drivers’ perspective, September’s robust export growth reflects the combined effect of a low base, restocking demand, and structural recovery. On the one hand, last year’s relatively weak export base created room for strong year-on-year expansion; on the other, overseas retailers and brands ramped up inventory replenishment ahead of the peak season, pushing forward the timing of order releases for finished garments. According to data from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Textiles, in September, exports of five major labor‑intensive product categories—textile yarns and fabrics, luggage and bags, apparel, toys, and household appliances—rose 25.2% year over year, with the growth rate accelerating by 16.1 percentage points compared with the previous month. Notably, the rebound in U.S. shipments provided key support. This also suggests that, in the fourth quarter, order differentiation will first manifest in price levels and delivery timelines.
From the perspective of product mix, the focus of industry competition is shifting. Taking August as an example, exports of woven and knitted apparel rose 13.3% year on year in value, with export volume up 7.6% and unit prices increasing by 5.3%, reflecting a simultaneous rise in both volume and price. By contrast, from January to August, while export volume grew 5.7%, unit prices declined by 3.3%. This comparison indicates that the previous strategy of “trading price for volume” is giving way to a model of “pricing based on quality,” with product quality and consistency, along with rapid responsiveness, once again emerging as key factors in order allocation.

This trend is also evident in the Japanese market. From January to August 2026, China’s exports of textiles and apparel to Japan totaled US$10.21 billion, down 1.1% year on year, with knitted and woven apparel accounting for US$6.41 billion, a decline of 4.1%. However, according to Japanese statistics, Japan’s imports of textiles and apparel from China amounted to US$10.198 billion over the same period, up by US$12 million year on year, maintaining its position as the top source of such imports and accounting for nearly 50% of Japan’s total textile and apparel imports. The divergent year-on-year trends between these two sets of data stem from differences in statistical methodologies: the former reflects Chinese export statistics, while the latter is based on Japanese import data, with variations in pricing methods and reporting dates. Beneath the apparent stability of overall volumes, the room for price competition in Japanese procurement is narrowing, with delivery reliability and comprehensive quality control emerging as critical factors for suppliers seeking to maintain their foothold.
Nantong Kaoyuan International Trade Co., Ltd. specializes in the export of knitted and woven women’s and children’s apparel to Japan, with women’s and children’s wear accounting for 90% of its product mix. The company has long served numerous leading Japanese trading houses and mid-to-high‑end fashion brands. In response to the trend toward smaller, shorter‑lead‑time orders during peak seasons, the company leverages its own Dongyang Fashion factory and a coordinated fabric‑sourcing department to implement rolling production scheduling and flexible staffing. It also moves key quality‑control checkpoints—such as fabric inspection, sample approval, and mass‑production monitoring—forward in the process, thereby shortening the lead time from sample confirmation to final delivery. This approach enables the company to meet the evolving procurement needs of its Japanese trading‑house clients with “consistent quality and reliable delivery schedules.”
For suppliers deeply entrenched in the Japan‑focused market, the fourth quarter poses a challenge not in overall order volume, but in delivery reliability: can fabrics be consistently supplied by batch number? Can production lines swiftly switch between short‑run orders? And can quality control remain stringent even as output ramps up? The company will continue to leverage its integrated manufacturing‑and‑trading synergy to maintain a strong reputation for on‑time delivery in Japan’s mid‑to‑high‑end apparel segment, despite the dual pressures of raw‑material price volatility and tightening lead times.