The resilience of China's textile and apparel foreign trade has been reaffirmed by the mid-year data for 2026. According to customs statistics released on July 14, total exports from January to June reached $145.96 billion, up 1.4% year-on-year. Behind this figure lies a market that is stable in total volume but sharply divided internally: upstream textile intermediates grew 3.5%, while downstream apparel exports fell 0.7%, a divergence of over 4 percentage points.
June Market: Autumn-Winter Stocking Triggers a Strong Rebound
June became the standout month of the first half. Exports hit $29.27 billion, surging 7.2% year-on-year and 14.3% month-on-month. This rebound was no accident; the official start of overseas autumn-winter stocking was the direct driver. Textile exports reached $13.52 billion, up 12.2% year-on-year; apparel exports hit $15.75 billion, soaring 21% month-on-month, as replenishment demand was unleashed.
In RMB terms, exchange rate fluctuations caused some distortion. Cumulative exports in the first half were 1,012.22 billion yuan, down 2.2% year-on-year. Textiles totaled 506.42 billion yuan, down just 0.1%; apparel totaled 505.8 billion yuan, down 4.2%. June saw a synchronized recovery in RMB terms, with monthly exports of 200.25 billion yuan, led by strong growth in the fabric segment.
Market Divergence: US Trade Warms Up, Traditional Markets Weaken
Looking at export destinations for the first five months, global demand is sharply fragmented. The US market emerged as the biggest incremental driver, with export growth expanding 15 percentage points compared to the same period last year. Stabilizing signals from high-level US-China meetings, combined with the completion of inventory destocking by overseas brands, prompted buyers to increase procurement from Chinese supply chains.
In contrast, traditional mature markets like the EU, Japan, and South Korea continued to lose momentum. The EU is mired in high energy costs and inflation, dampening consumer spending on apparel. ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea face dual pressures from regional tensions and rising energy prices, reducing their imports of Chinese textiles and apparel. Additionally, the temporary easing of Middle East tensions and lower shipping costs provided short-term boosts to June's export recovery.
Supply Chain Advantage: The Structural Code Behind Upstream Order Resilience
Disaggregated data for the first five months reveals sharply different operating conditions for upstream and downstream sectors. Yarn exports grew 6.6% year-on-year, fabric exports fell only 0.5%, and finished textile products rose 2.6%. In contrast, apparel and clothing accessories exports declined 1.6%.
This divergence is no coincidence. Overseas brands are adopting low-inventory strategies, reducing large long-term apparel orders and instead placing frequent, small orders for yarns and fabrics. China possesses the world's most complete textile supply chain, from chemical fiber, spinning, and dyeing to finished products, offering delivery efficiency and product quality that are hard to replicate elsewhere. This is the core reason for the sustained growth in upstream textile categories. Meanwhile, the apparel OEM track has low entry barriers, facing intense international capacity diversion and price competition, a pressure unlikely to ease soon.
Outlook for H2: Stability Achievable, Structural Optimization Key
Looking ahead to the second half, the global trade environment remains complex. The World Bank warns that the global economy will continue to face three pressures: rising energy prices, high inflation, and tightening monetary policies overseas. Global consumption growth is expected to weaken. Slow recovery in end-consumer demand in Europe and the US, persistently high production costs, and fragmented global trade patterns that intensify capacity competition will all test industry players.
However, the H1 2026 performance of "stable total volume, structural divergence, and month-end rebound" points the way forward. The era of low-price, high-volume exports is over. A complete supply chain, product innovation, and diversified global markets are the core tools for navigating the cycle. While H2 uncertainties remain, China's deep textile industry foundation provides solid support for stable foreign trade performance, provided companies adjust their product and market strategies in a timely manner.