The Lantern Festival,celebrated on February 12,marks a significant cultural event in China that symbolizes reunion and joy.In the city of Shaoxing,located in Zhejiang Province,the local management committee of the China Textile City took this festive occasion as an opportunity to convene an important meeting for its officials.The intent behind the gathering was not merely celebratory; it sought to establish a model for outward economic openness within the textile industry,aiming to provide substantial support for textile enterprises and market players seeking to expand their horizons.

The proposed initiative underscores a broader ambition: a target to elevate the total transaction volume of the China Textile City by over 10% by the year 2025.This translates to an impressive goal of surpassing 440 billion yuan in total transaction volume.With a solid track record,the China Textile City achieved significant success in the previous year—2024's transaction volume totaled approximately 400.99 billion yuan,marking a year-on-year growth of about 11.09%.This achievement reflects a thriving industry,crucial to understanding the dynamics of China's textile and apparel sector,which remains pivotal to the global market.

Positioned as the world's largest textile distribution center,the China Textile City stands as a vital tableau for the industry,where about 25% of the total global fabric trade occurs annually.A senior executive from a Shaoxing textile enterprise noted,"The performance of China Textile City is a microcosm of the domestic industry landscape.Their results and ambitions serve as significant indicators for assessing the current and future market conditions within the sector." The executive reported that the overall performance of the industry,including their company,remained relatively stable during the past year.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics,the 3,800 large-scale textile enterprises across the nation saw an increase in revenue of 4% year-on-year,bouncing back by 4.8% from the previous period.Additionally,the total profit margin increased by 7.5%,signifying a positive trend.However,as the industry looks ahead to 2025,uncertainties loom on the horizon.

The same executive raised reservations regarding potential challenges facing the garment sector due to heightened geopolitical tensions and trade frictions.Responding to these pressures,their company has proactively expanded its manufacturing capabilities to Vietnam,seeking to leverage lower labor costs and mitigate associated risks.The executive stated,"The risk of tariffs significantly factors into our decision to invest outside of China.While we can currently still make a profit when exporting to the U.S.,further increased tariffs could lead us to reevaluate our operational framework." This sentiment echoes among many industry insiders.

As of now,the U.S.maintains an import tariff of around 25% on clothing from China,with specialty categories facing even steeper levies.For instance,the import tax for synthetic fiber sweaters can reach 32%,while cotton sweaters carry approximately a 16.5% tariff.Following additional levies,some apparel products imported from China face tariffs as high as 42%.These escalations directly impact cost structures.

Industry workers express concern over escalating operational costs due to these tariffs.One apparel practitioner remarked that the fierce competition in the clothing market necessitates creative cost management strategies.If they pass on these costs to consumers,product competitiveness may wan significantly.Hence,many companies aim to explore alternative strategies away from the Chinese market.

Leading enterprises such as Weixing Co.,Huafu Fashion,and Bailong Oriental have already begun establishing manufacturing bases in Southeast Asia to safeguard their market positions.Weixing Co.,for instance,is operational in Vietnam’s industrial parks as of March 2024,with their strategic focus aimed at bolstering their comprehensive service capabilities for clothing brands and capturing a growing local market share.

As conveyed by a spokesperson from Weixing Co.,Vietnam and Bangladesh are regarded predominantly as export-oriented nations specializing in garment processing.The spokesperson further noted an observable trend: some overseas clients are turning to these regions to subcontract production,indicating a shift in manufacturing dynamics.However,it's important to highlight that the perception that labor costs in Vietnam are significantly lower may not reflect the current realities as wage rates and labor efficiency continue to evolve.

Huafu Fashion,which specializes in mid-to-high-end colored yarns,previously intended to allocate funding to develop production capacity in Vietnam.However,recent disclosures indicate a shift in their focus.The company altered the scope of their investment in 2021,transitioning from a yarn production project in Vietnam to establishing an intelligent spinning industrial park in Huai Bei City,Anhui Province.Visiting this new focus,Huafu acknowledged that the initial reasoning for abandoning Vietnam was due to a lack of substantial market demand.

Despite these strategic revisions,market alterations necessitate adaptability.Consumption research expert Xu Wei from a private fund in Eastern China commented that companies making overseas adjustments must remain agile,constantly reassessing and devising new strategies in response to contemporary market developments.

Beyond the immediate corporate concerns,scholars and economists have raised additional apprehensions regarding the broader implications of textile and garment industries relocating abroad,particularly the risk of "hollowing out" the domestic manufacturing sector.Leading economists,such as Luo Zhiheng from Guangdong Kaiyuan Securities,warn that excessive manufacturing relocations could reduce the competitive edge of China's manufacturing ecosystem.In the long run,this could exacerbate risks of industry hollowing,where a country becomes overly dependent on services and trade rather than manufacturing capabilities.

The phenomenon of industry hollowing refers to an economic structure dominated by service sectors,financial services,and trade activities,while the manufacturing base dramatically diminishes.Luo contends that transferring industry chains does not inherently cause hollowing out; however,the failure to retain critical segments of an industry could lead to rapid outflows,creating long-term challenges that are difficult to reverse.Employment opportunities in labor-intensive sectors,such as textiles,shoemaking,and hat manufacturing,have already been significantly affected,as seen from employment numbers dropping from 4.495 million in 2015 to about 2.315 million in 2022 among larger enterprises.

This shrinking employment landscape underscores the complex dilemmas that arise from globalization and the realignment of production chains.As industries continue to shift their foundations,the challenges lurk,making it crucial for stakeholders across the textile and garment sectors to navigate their future pathways prudently,ensuring that we preserve not only economic vitality but also the cultural and social fabric that these industries support.