On July 9, the Administrative Committee of China Textile City released figures showing that the total turnover of China Textile City in Keqiao, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, hit 216.985 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, marking a 10.04% year-on-year increase. The textile market’s upward momentum in the first six months is closely attributed to its unwavering commitment to opening-up and innovation-driven development.
1. Opening-Up: Forging Global Trade Links to Boost Market Dynamics
As the world’s largest specialized textile market, China Textile City has made “opening-up” a cornerstone of its development. It has been actively building high-standard trade platforms and expanding international cooperation networks to draw global resources.
International expos as a magnet for global players: The 2025 China Shaoxing Keqiao International Textile Fabrics & Accessories Expo (Spring Edition), held in May, covered 40,000 square meters and drew buyers from over 80 countries and regions. Ranging from Southeast Asian garment producers to European designer labels, these buyers were able to engage with thousands of fabric enterprises in one place and get a firsthand look at China’s textile innovations, including eco-friendly recycled fabrics and functional outdoor materials, which significantly enhanced collaboration efficiency. It’s estimated that the expo saw intended deals worth over 3 billion yuan, directly contributing to the H1 turnover growth.
“Silk Road Keqiao · Fabrics for the World” initiative expands reach: To overcome geographical hurdles, Keqiao has been advancing the “Silk Road Keqiao · Fabrics for the World” overseas expansion drive. In the first half, this initiative enabled more than 100 local businesses to establish direct ties with over 300 global purchasers, spanning key markets like Belt and Road countries, ASEAN, and the Middle East. For instance, Keqiao’s fabric companies have forged long-term partnerships with garment factories in major textile-processing nations such as Vietnam and Bangladesh, providing them with cost-effective polyester-cotton blended fabrics. Additionally, in response to the European market’s demand for sustainable fabrics, export orders for organic cotton and bamboo fiber fabrics from numerous enterprises rose by over 15% year-on-year.
2. Innovation-Driven Growth: Securing a Leading Position via Technological Advances
Amidst the growing global competition in the textile sector, China Textile City has shifted its focus from “expanding scale” to “pursuing quality”. By encouraging fabric enterprises to innovate technologically and upgrade products, it has built a distinctive competitive edge.
Functional fabrics emerge as a key growth driver: Catering to the trend of consumption upgrading, enterprises in Keqiao have been integrating “technology with fabrics” and rolling out a range of high-value-added products. These include sports fabrics with moisture-wicking, antibacterial, and odor-resistant properties, windproof, waterproof, and breathable fabrics for outdoor apparel, and skin-friendly, eco-safe fabrics for baby clothes. These products are not only popular among domestic brands but also in high demand for overseas orders. Statistics indicate that functional fabrics accounted for 35% of total turnover in the first half, up by over 20% year-on-year.
Digital transformation enhances operational efficiency: China Textile City is speeding up the digital revamp of its market. Through an “online exhibition hall + smart matching” platform, it assists businesses in precisely connecting with global procurement needs. Enterprises can upload fabric parameters and application scenarios on the platform, and the system automatically matches them with buyers’ order requirements, greatly shortening the transaction cycle. Moreover, digital management has improved inventory turnover efficiency by 10%, effectively cutting down operational costs for enterprises.
3. Industrial Ecosystem: Full-Chain Collaboration Lays a Solid Foundation
The steady growth in turnover is also underpinned by the full-chain support of Keqiao’s textile industry cluster. A highly coordinated industrial ecosystem has taken shape, covering upstream chemical fiber raw material supply, mid-stream fabric weaving and dyeing, and downstream clothing design and trade services.
“Government-enterprise synergy” optimizes the business climate: The local government has reduced operational costs for enterprises through measures like tax and fee cuts and cross-border logistics subsidies. It has also built an international logistics hub and launched direct freight routes to Southeast Asia and Europe, shortening the delivery time for fabric exports by 3-5 days and further boosting international competitiveness.
Targeted collaborations energize the domestic market: Beyond overseas markets, China Textile City has been actively exploring domestic cooperation channels. The “2025 China Clothing Brands and Keqiao Selected Enterprises Precision Business Matchmaking Event” held in early July brought together 15 renowned brands including Balute and Bosideng, and 22 “Keqiao Selected” enterprises. Over 360 fabric samples were arranged for testing, covering segments such as men’s formal wear and outdoor clothing, laying the groundwork for domestic sales growth in the second half of the year.
Post time: Jul-18-2025