China's apparel exports reached US$89.45 billion in the first seven months of 2026, with year-on-year growth turning positive at 1%, recovering from -0.6% in January-June. July alone recorded US$16.45 billion, up 8.5% year-on-year, accelerating by 5.3 percentage points from June. This rebound is not a broad recovery but a result of sharp divergence across markets and categories. For buyers, supply chain realignment is accelerating; for factories, uneven order flows matter more than headline totals.
Market Divergence: US, Russia, Africa Grow; ASEAN, Latin America Under Pressure
Among traditional markets, exports to the US reached US$21.23 billion, up 13.8%, the largest incremental source. Exports to the EU totaled US$17.42 billion, up 1.3%, turning positive. Japan-bound exports were US$6.32 billion, down 1.2%. Emerging markets showed extremes: exports to Russia surged 42.4%, Africa rose 21.4%, and Australia grew slightly; meanwhile, ASEAN, Latin America, the Middle East, and South Korea all declined.
This divergence means exporters must reassess their market mix. While US growth looks strong, market share data reveals another story: China's share of US apparel imports fell to 11.4% in January-June, down 4.6 percentage points year-on-year, while Vietnam climbed to 20.7%. Tariff stacking and supply chain shifts are materially redrawing the sourcing map. Meanwhile, China's share in the EU and Japan edged up to 29% and 46.8% respectively, maintaining dominance in Japan.
Category Split: Man-Made Knitwear Leads, Woven Still Contracting
Knitwear exports reached US$41.14 billion, up 2.5%, with man-made fiber knitwear at US$21.65 billion, up 3.4%; cotton knitwear was US$13.82 billion, down 0.1%. Woven apparel exports totaled US$36.5 billion, down 1.8%, though the decline narrowed by 1.9 percentage points; man-made and cotton woven fell 1.7% and 3.8% respectively. Clothing accessories exports were US$8.47 billion, down 0.3%, but plastic and rubber apparel and accessories surged 21.2%.
Among subcategories, coats and parkas fell 10.5%, the steepest decline, though narrowing. Suits, babywear, sportswear and swimwear, and scarves and ties posted growth; bras, underwear and sleepwear, and dresses and skirts declined. Man-made fiber categories clearly outperformed cotton, directly linked to raw material price volatility and shifting overseas demand. For man-made fabric suppliers, the demand window for knit applications remains open.
Regional Concentration: Zhejiang Leads, Central-Western Provinces Volatile
Domestic export provinces show stronger concentration. Zhejiang ranked first with US$24.63 billion, up 12.1%, accounting for 27.5% of the national total; Guangdong grew 6.4%. Jiangsu, Shandong, Xinjiang, and Fujian declined. Hainan, Shanxi, and Heilongjiang saw explosive growth; Guangxi, Hubei, Sichuan, and Hunan fell sharply, highlighting regional divergence.
Zhejiang's strength stems from its complete man-made fiber supply chain and quick-response capability, while central-western volatility reflects orders concentrating in mature coastal clusters. For buyers, higher geographic concentration reduces communication costs but increases single-region risk.
H2 Risks: Tariff Stacking and Duty-Free Removal
Looking ahead, external risks are concentrated. US multi-layered tariffs, the EU's removal of cross-border parcel duty exemptions, and accelerating global supply chain restructuring are raising trade friction risks. July's surge is positive, but the recovery base remains fragile with uneven category and regional performance. Exporters must closely monitor overseas policy changes, strengthen compliance, and optimize global supply chain layouts.