While coastal textile hubs face rising labor costs and environmental pressure, inland Jiangxi counties are accelerating growth through a dual drive of smart manufacturing and green infrastructure. In 2025, De'an County's textile and apparel cluster achieved revenue of 15.013 billion yuan, up 23.85% year-on-year, with 68 enterprises above designated size. This growth stands out against the backdrop of general pressure in the national textile industry.
The Smart Leverage Behind Full-Order Production
Yisheng Textile, located in De'an's Fenglin Industrial New Zone, began full-capacity operation after its launch in 2025. Its smart production line covers the entire process from weaving to dyeing, coating, and calendering, with few workers on the shop floor. Deputy General Manager Hu Lejing revealed that as of mid-May, output value had reached approximately 30 million yuan, with a full-year target between 100 million and 130 million yuan. Orders are already booked through August.
Supporting this capacity release is a product first-quality rate exceeding 99%. For a company primarily producing woven synthetic fabrics for export to Europe and the US, this means lower return rates and stronger customer loyalty. At a time when overseas brands demand ever-greater supply chain stability, the quality consistency brought by smart manufacturing directly translates into sustained order flow.
Synergy Between Industrial Brain and Green Infrastructure
De'an's approach is not a single-point breakthrough. The county leverages the province's only 'industrial brain' for the textile sector to systematically cultivate digital transformation benchmark enterprises. Tan Yurong, deputy general manager of Yiyang Textile Group, noted that the company has fully integrated a 5G smart factory, using MES and WMS systems for full-process digital control, boosting production efficiency by 25% and reducing labor costs by 15%.
More critical is the stable operation of the park's 'Five Unifications' project—unified heating, water supply, wastewater treatment, reclaimed water, and sludge disposal. For dyeing and printing enterprises, environmental facilities often account for over 30% of total investment, with high operating costs. De'an's model allows companies to avoid building their own wastewater treatment and heating systems, directly lowering operational barriers. Several enterprises have now been recognized as national or provincial green factories, and the high-tech zone has been named a national green industrial park.
The Clustering Effect of a Full-Chain Industry
After years of cultivation, De'an has formed a complete closed-loop industrial chain covering spinning, weaving, dyeing, and garment processing. The cluster of over 400 operating enterprises and 68 above-designated-size firms significantly enhances upstream-downstream coordination efficiency. Yisheng Textile's products cover apparel, luggage, umbrellas, and home goods, serving over 200 global brands—a direct reflection of the chain's completeness.
For buyers, this means the ability to conduct one-stop procurement from yarn to finished garments in De'an, reducing intermediate logistics and communication costs. For foreign trade companies, the park's overall green certification and digital capabilities also facilitate easier factory audits by European and American clients.
Challenges and Strategies for Inland Industrial Belts
Despite the positive momentum, De'an's model faces concerns. Whether the 23.85% high growth rate is sustainable depends on the resilience of overseas demand for woven synthetic fabrics. Additionally, the significant initial investment required for smart equipment may limit the ability of small and medium enterprises to follow suit.