A production line with an annual output value close to 100 million yuan for woven chemical fiber fabrics operates with minimal labor yet achieves a 99% first-rate product rate. This is the reality unfolding in the Fenglin Industrial New District of De'an, Jiangxi. While the industry debates the cost-effectiveness of replacing labor with machines, this central county's dyeing and printing cluster has already provided an answer with data: intelligent transformation is not an option but a necessity for survival.
From 'Unmanned Workshops' to 'Full-Chain Intelligence'
In the workshop of Jiujiang Yisheng Textile Printing and Dyeing Co., Ltd., every step from weaving to finishing is connected by automated equipment. This new factory, commissioned in 2025, is a key move by Jiangxi Yiwei Textile Group to complete its industrial chain. By mid-May, its output value had exceeded 30 million yuan, with an annual target of 100 million yuan, and even 130 million yuan. Orders are booked through August, and continuous additions from overseas markets, especially Europe and America, keep the production lines running at full capacity.
The direct benefits of intelligence are quantifiable. A 99% first-rate product rate means lower defect losses and higher customer satisfaction, crucial for the stringent quality requirements of European and American markets. Yiyang Textile Group provides another dimension: through its 5G smart factory and MES/WMS systems, production efficiency has increased by 25%, and labor costs have dropped by 15%. In an era of rising labor costs, these figures are highly attractive to any dyeing and printing enterprise.
Green Infrastructure as a 'Hidden Competitive Edge'
The upgrade of the De'an dyeing and printing cluster is not a solo effort by enterprises. The park's 'Five Unification' project—integrating heating, water supply, wastewater treatment, reclaimed water, and sludge disposal—is reshaping the cost structure of the industry. Tan Yurong, deputy general manager of Yiyang Textile, stated that by connecting to this system, the company no longer needs to build its own wastewater treatment and heating facilities, significantly saving construction and operation costs.
This intensive supporting model lowers the green transformation threshold for small and medium-sized dyeing enterprises. In the past, environmental investment was often the last straw for small factories, but now it has become a public infrastructure for regional competitiveness. De'an High-tech Zone has been recognized as a national-level green park, and several enterprises have earned national or provincial green factory certifications, a remarkable achievement in the traditionally high-energy-consuming dyeing industry.
Cluster Effect: 400 Enterprises, 15 Billion Yuan in Revenue
The De'an textile and garment cluster has formed a complete closed-loop industrial chain encompassing spinning, weaving, dyeing and printing, and garment processing. Latest data shows over 400 enterprises have started operations in the cluster, including 68 above-designated-size industrial enterprises. In 2025, the cluster achieved an operating revenue of 15.013 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23.85%. This growth rate stands out against the backdrop of overall pressure on the national textile industry.
The growth is driven by systematic activation of existing capacity. De'an relies on the province's only 'Industrial Brain' for the textile and garment industry to scale up the cultivation of digital transformation benchmark enterprises. This means intelligent transformation is no longer a privilege for a few leading enterprises but spreads through the entire cluster via benchmark demonstrations and public platforms. The cases of Yisheng and Yiyang are typical nodes on this diffusion path.
Implications for Buyers and Foreign Trade Companies
For fabric buyers, the rise of the De'an cluster signifies the formation of a stable supply source for mid-to-high-end woven chemical fiber fabrics. A 99% first-rate product rate, fully automated quality control processes, and multi-category production capabilities covering apparel, luggage, umbrellas, and home textiles make this region a viable alternative to traditional coastal supply bases.
For foreign trade companies in dyeing and printing, the De'an model reveals a trend: future order competition will increasingly depend on a factory's digital delivery capabilities and green compliance costs. Factories connected to the 'Five Unification' system and equipped with intelligent scheduling systems will have a clear first-mover advantage when dealing with increasingly stringent ESG audits and delivery requirements from European and American clients.