One out of every five sweaters in the world comes from Dalang, Dongguan, a southern Chinese knitting town whose full-industry-chain transaction value exceeds 72 billion yuan. The 95th International Wool Textile Conference held here sends a clear signal: the traditional advantages of the wool industry are being redefined by intelligence and health. Dalang's data is just the tip of the iceberg. According to public data from the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), China's annual fiber processing volume exceeds 60 million tons, and its annual garment output tops 70 billion pieces, both accounting for over 50% of global totals. The textile industry has maintained exports above $300 billion for six consecutive years. However, from January to April 2025, the operating revenue of above-scale enterprises fell by 0.3% year-on-year, while total profits surged by 19.3%. This contrast indicates an efficiency-driven profit recovery rather than scale-driven growth. Investment data further highlights divergence: from January to May 2025, fixed-asset investment in the textile sector grew by 10.8%, while the garment and chemical fiber sectors dropped by 10.3% and 14.5%, respectively. This reflects capital flowing toward technology-intensive textile manufacturing rather than traditional processing. The conference theme "Intelligent Weaving the Future" is not just a slogan. Artificial intelligence is penetrating the entire wool supply chain faster than expected. Jiangsu Yueda Textile's "Lighthouse Factory" case shows that smart manufacturing reduces labor per 10,000 spindles by about 70%, increases per-capita productivity by over four times, cuts energy consumption by 15%, and lowers processing costs by 26%. Semir's AI-assisted design system boosts overall design efficiency by 35%, while pattern design efficiency improves by over 200%. Bosideng's "AI Aesthetic Brain" reduces sample development costs by more than 60%. More notably, the intelligent economy is reshaping the industry ecosystem. Anuoqi's strategy provides a typical example: from dyes to inks, digital printing, AI design, and IP cultural products, forming a closed loop. This means future competition for wool enterprises will no longer be solely about fiber and weaving processes, but about the comprehensive ability to integrate data, algorithms, and scenarios. The global AI market reached $757.58 billion in 2025, projected to exceed $900 billion by 2026. China's daily token calls surpassed 140 trillion, up over 40% from the end of last year. Behind these numbers lies a reconfiguration of computing power, capital, and human resources. Another growth curve for the wool industry comes from the experience economy. Global consumer markets are showing characteristics of ecological restructuring, human-centric return, and structural differentiation. Consumer demands for health, emotional connection, and self-expression are pushing wool products to transform from "basic warmth" to "functional and emotional carriers." As a natural fiber, wool has inherent advantages in health and sustainability trends. From January to April 2025, retail sales of garments, footwear, hats, and knitwear by above-scale units totaled 512.13 billion yuan, up 8.1% year-on-year, 5 percentage points higher than the previous year. The recovery provides demand support, but enterprises need to capture segmented consumer needs more precisely.
For Procurement - Prioritize intelligent factories with stable capacity: Smart manufacturing ensures reliable delivery and quality. - Emphasize certifications for natural fibers: Sustainability certifications like IWTO standards become key decision factors.
For Foreign Trade - Adjust export product mix: Textile exports grew 1.7%, while garment exports fell 1.6%. Increase intermediate goods like fabrics and yarns. - Deploy AI-assisted design for customization: Use AI tools to reduce design costs for small batches and quickly respond to personalized overseas demand, enhancing premium pricing.
The transformation of the wool industry has just begun. From Dalang to the world, intelligence and health are becoming the two core forces reshaping fiber value. For enterprises, understanding and embracing this change is more urgent than guarding traditional advantages.