One out of every five wool sweaters in the world is produced in Dalang, a town in Dongguan, Guangdong. In late June, Dalang hosted the 95th International Wool Textile Conference under the theme 'Smart Weaving Future: Wool Health and Digital Life'. As natural fibers meet digital technology, the wool textile industry is no longer just a continuation of traditional manufacturing but is becoming a growth engine driven by new technology, new consumption, and new cooperation.
Industry Foundation: Dalang's Cluster Effect and Key Data
Dalang's industrial scale is the starting point for understanding the conference's significance. Local garment output exceeds 900 million pieces annually, with the entire industrial chain's transaction volume surpassing 72 billion yuan. Behind these figures lie the forces of open cooperation and industrial agglomeration. Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), disclosed several key data points: China's annual fiber processing volume remains above 60 million tons, and annual garment output exceeds 70 billion pieces, both accounting for over 50% of the global total. The textile industry has maintained export volumes above $300 billion for six consecutive years, with strong exports of intermediate products like chemical fibers and fabrics providing stable support for global supply chains.
From an operational perspective, during the first four months of 2025, revenue of textile enterprises above designated size edged down 0.3% year-on-year, but total profit surged 19.3%, with a profit margin of 2.9%. Retail sales of garments, footwear, hats, and knitwear by units above designated size reached 512.13 billion yuan, up 8.1% year-on-year, accelerating by 5 percentage points from the previous year. The improvement in profit margins indicates effective cost control and higher product value-added. However, investment data shows divergence: fixed asset investment in the textile industry grew 10.8%, while garment and chemical fiber sectors declined by 10.3% and 14.5% respectively, suggesting capital is concentrating on upstream and intelligent transformation.
Technology Variables: How the Smart Economy Reshapes Wool Textile Rules
The conference's focus on 'digital life' directly echoes AI's penetration into the industry. Sun noted that the global AI market is expected to reach $757.58 billion in 2025, up 18.7%, while China's daily token calls have exceeded 140 trillion. These macro indicators translate into tangible efficiency gains at the micro level. For instance, Jiangsu Yueda Textile's 'Lighthouse Factory' reduced labor per 10,000 spindles by about 70%, increased overall labor productivity by more than four times, cut unit energy consumption by 15%, and lowered processing costs by 26%. Semir's AI-assisted design system boosted overall design efficiency by 35%, with pattern design efficiency improving by over 200%. Bosideng's 'AI Aesthetics Brain' reduced sample development costs by over 60%.
For wool textile enterprises, these cases imply: First, the ROI of smart manufacturing is becoming quantifiable. Second, AI applications in design and flexible manufacturing can directly shorten order-to-delivery cycles, crucial for fast fashion and customized knitwear. Third, the introduction of digital employees and intelligent agents is reshaping factory workforce structures—by 2030, global humanoid robot shipments are expected to grow by about 508% year-on-year, a trend that will gradually land in the wool textile sector.
Green Responsibility: New Business Logic of Wool's Health Attributes
Another core topic is 'wool health.' Amid the restructuring of the consumer ecosystem, demand for health, emotional connection, and self-expression is rising. Wool, as a natural fiber with breathable, warm, and biodegradable properties, aligns perfectly with this trend. Sun pointed out that China's textile industry is accelerating its green transition, with technologies like non-aqueous dyeing and digital printing being rapidly adopted, improving resource efficiency.
For buyers and brands, this means green compliance in the supply chain is no longer an option but a core competitiveness factor. Dalang's wool knitwear cluster's investment in green manufacturing will directly influence its priority in international procurement orders. Meanwhile, the global popularity of Chinese-style fashion provides space for value enhancement—brands like Anta and Shein have entered the global top 500, while wool enterprises like Erdos are deeply involved in global cooperation through cross-border M&A and multi-brand operations.