As artificial intelligence begins to reshape the underlying logic of the textile industry, the rules of competition in the global supply chain are being rewritten. On August 26, the press conference for the 9th World Textile Merchants Conference was held in Shanghai, officially announcing that the conference will take place on November 6, 2026, in Keqiao, Shaoxing. This timing coincides with the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, signaling that the Chinese textile industry is attempting to redefine its position in the global value chain through digital intelligence.
Data Behind the Industry Temperature
Keqiao's first-half performance deserves careful reading: regional GDP reached 122 billion yuan, growing 7.0%; exports from January to July totaled 110.34 billion yuan, up 16%; and the China Textile City's total transaction volume hit 268.36 billion yuan, a 9.1% increase. The export growth rate significantly outpacing GDP growth indicates that international demand for Keqiao textiles remains robust, but it also implies subtle shifts in export structure—lower value-added products may be contracting while higher value-added goods gain share.
Another key signal is that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China listed the textile industry as a key sector for 'optimization and upgrading.' This means policy support will tilt toward intelligent transformation and green transition. Companies that fail to keep pace risk being marginalized in the next round of consolidation. For buyers, this is both a window to identify quality suppliers and a critical moment to reassess supply chain resilience.
Dual Pressures of Digital Collaboration and Green Constraints
Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, highlighted three major trends at the press conference: industrial layout shifting from efficiency-first to a balance between security and resilience, AI moving from point-specific applications to full-chain reshaping, and green development evolving from conceptual consensus to hard constraints. These judgments point directly to the industry's pain points—the old model of competing on low cost is no longer viable. Future competition will center on the depth of digital technology application and carbon footprint management.
For small and medium-sized factories, this presents a dilemma: without digital systems, they risk losing international orders; with full-scale transformation, they face capital and technical barriers. Industry-level industrial internet platforms may offer a middle path, sharing data infrastructure to lower individual transformation costs. For brands and traders, stricter green standards mean they must establish carbon accounting systems ahead of time, or risk being excluded from European and American markets.
Keqiao's 'Three World-Class' Ambitions
Song Qi, Deputy District Mayor of Keqiao, revealed that the local government is advancing transformation toward three goals: a world-class large market, a world-class industrial base, and a world-class sci-tech innovation platform. The China Textile City is shifting from 'scaling scale' to 'scaling value.' Specific actions include micro-renovation of old markets, deepening 'market+' integrated business formats, and advancing the 'Silk Road Keqiao, Fabric Connecting the World' initiative. Behind these moves is Keqiao's strategic intent to upgrade from a mere trading hub to a participant in global textile rule-making.
Notably, the conference will invite representatives from more than 60 countries and regions and release the '2027 World Textile Industry Trend Outlook.' Such forward-looking reports often serve as references for international procurement decisions, giving Keqiao and China's textile industry a practical edge in gaining voice. For foreign trade companies, paying attention to the trend judgments in these reports can help adjust product lines and market strategies in advance.