China's Textile & Apparel Exports Narrow Decline in September; Jan-Sept Cumulative Exports Edge Down Slightly

Affected by Sino-U.S. tariff frictions and global supply chain restructuring, China's textile and apparel exports continued to face pressure in September. However, the latest data from the General Administration of Customs shows a positive sign: the decline in exports narrowed significantly compared to the previous month, while cumulative exports from January to September remained largely stable with only a slight dip. Notably, textile exports (including yarns, fabrics, and intermediate products) demonstrated strong resilience with positive growth, offsetting part of the pressure from weaker apparel exports.

Broken down by U.S. dollar terms-widely used for international trade comparisons-the export performance in September and the first nine months shows a mixed but stabilizing trend.

September 2025 (Single Month)

: $24.42 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.4%-a 3.6-percentage-point narrowing of the decline compared to August. On a month-on-month basis, exports fell 8%, partly due to seasonal adjustments after peak shipping periods.

• : $11.97 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.5%-a standout performance that underscored the segment's resilience. Month-on-month, exports declined 3.4%, a mild drop compared to the overall category.
• : $12.45 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 8%, with the decline narrowing by 2.1 percentage points from August. However, the month-on-month drop reached 12%, reflecting continued pressure on end-product demand.

January-September 2025 (Cumulative)

: $221.69 billion, a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.3%-a minimal decline that highlights the sector's overall stability amid external headwinds.

• : $106.48 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%. This growth was driven by steady demand for intermediate products, such as functional fabrics and industrial textiles, from emerging markets and domestic manufacturing.
• : $115.21 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 2.5%. The decline was mainly attributed to softer consumer spending in key markets (e.g., Europe and the U.S.) and lingering tariff costs for finished apparel.

In RMB terms-relevant for domestic enterprises' cost and revenue calculations-the data paints a similar picture of stabilization, with cumulative exports even registering slight growth.

September 2025 (Single Month)

: RMB 174.31 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 0.6% and a month-on-month drop of 8.2%.

• : RMB 85.42 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.3% (outpacing the USD growth rate) and a month-on-month decline of 3.7%.
• : RMB 88.89 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 7.2% and a month-on-month drop of 12.2%-consistent with the USD trend of stronger pressure on finished goods.

January-September 2025 (Cumulative)

: RMB 1.591 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%-a modest uptick that reflects stable domestic production and export momentum.

• : RMB 764.15 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3%-driven by robust demand for raw materials like yarns and fabrics in Southeast Asian manufacturing hubs (e.g., Vietnam and Bangladesh).
• : RMB 826.85 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 1.6%-aligning with global consumer caution toward non-essential apparel purchases.

• (yarns, fabrics, industrial textiles) are intermediate goods, with demand supported by both domestic manufacturing and emerging-market garment factories. Functional textiles (e.g., moisture-wicking fabrics for sportswear, anti-bacterial materials for medical use) have also seen growing orders, boosting overall growth.
• is a final consumer good, more sensitive to fluctuations in global demand, tariff costs, and fashion trends. The slight decline reflects ongoing adjustments in key markets, though the narrowing September drop suggests a potential stabilization in demand.

For China's textile and apparel exporters-especially those in the import-export business-the September data signals a stabilizing trend. The narrow decline in overall exports and positive growth in textiles provide a℃of certainty amid global uncertainties.

The resilience of textile exports also ties to demand for upstream raw materials. Our polyester and nylon fibers (both filament and staple)-core inputs for yarns, fabrics, and functional textiles-are well-positioned to support clients in meeting this steady demand, whether they're supplying emerging markets or producing high-value textile products. As the sector maintains stability, this raw material support will remain critical for exporters seeking to navigate market fluctuations.

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