While coastal printing and dyeing capacity faces dual pressures from environmental regulations and rising labor costs, the central county of De'an in Jiangxi has achieved full-capacity production. In the first five months of 2025, the De'an textile and apparel cluster posted revenue of 15.013 billion yuan, up 23.85% year-on-year. More notably, orders for leading enterprises are already scheduled through August, with production lines running around the clock. This phenomenon is not accidental. Through its 'Industrial Brain' and 'Five Unification' projects, De'an has integrated fragmented dyeing enterprises into a highly efficient, smart manufacturing ecosystem, rewriting the narrative of how central China is absorbing the textile industry's relocation.
Smart Transformation: From Labor-Intensive to Machine-Led
At Jiujiang Yisheng Textile Printing and Dyeing Co., automated production lines seamlessly link spinning, weaving, and finishing with minimal human intervention. This subsidiary, which began operations in 2025, uses fully intelligent equipment, achieving a first-grade product rate of over 99%. By mid-May, it had completed approximately 30 million yuan in output value, targeting an annual figure of 130 million yuan.
In contrast, Yiyang Textile Group has built a 5G smart factory utilizing MES and WMS systems for full-process digital control, boosting efficiency by 25% and cutting labor costs by 15%. Its functional and knitted fabrics target the domestic market, while garment products are exported to Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. Both cases illustrate a clear trend: as labor costs rise, investment in smart manufacturing is no longer optional but essential for ensuring delivery and quality.
The 'Five Unification' Model: How Green Initiatives Lower Entry Barriers
The high environmental costs of printing and dyeing often deter small and medium enterprises. De'an's solution is 'Five Unification'—centralized heat, water supply, wastewater treatment, reclaimed water, and sludge disposal. By building shared utilities, the park allows companies to connect and start production without investing in their own treatment plants or boilers.
Tan Yurong, deputy general manager of Yiyang Textile, noted that connecting to the system saved the company tens of millions in construction costs and significantly reduced operational expenses. This model not only enables fast market entry for newcomers but also allows existing firms to redirect capital toward equipment upgrades and R&D. The De'an High-tech Zone has been recognized as a national-level green park, with multiple companies earning provincial and national green factory status.
Order Structure: Overseas Recovery Meets Domestic Resilience
Yisheng Textile's main product—woven synthetic fabrics—is sold primarily to Europe and America, serving over 200 global brands. Its order book extends through August, indicating continued restocking demand from overseas apparel brands. Yiyang Textile, meanwhile, adopts a dual-drive model: functional and knitted fabrics for the domestic market, and garments for export to Europe, America, and Southeast Asia.
This order structure signals two things: first, Western markets remain reliant on Chinese printing and dyeing products, especially in mid-to-high-end woven fabrics, despite supply chain diversification efforts. Second, domestic demand for functional fabrics—driven by outdoor sports and home furnishings—maintains resilience.
Regional Competition: The Rise of Central China's Dyeing Sector
De'an's case is not isolated. Provinces like Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui are also building dyeing parks, attracting capacity from the east with policy incentives and infrastructure. But unlike earlier, simpler relocations, De'an's model emphasizes the dual engines of smart manufacturing and green production.
The cluster now encompasses a full closed-loop chain from spinning to garment making, with over 400 enterprises, including 68 above-designated-size firms. The 23.85% revenue growth far exceeds the national textile industry average. Central China's dyeing clusters are transitioning from cost-based advantages to efficiency-based competitiveness.