The development of cross-border e-commerce in the textile and clothing industry has shown a booming trend in recent years, becoming an important force in promoting industry transformation and upgrading.

I. Current Development Status

1. Market Expansion
   • In 2024, China's cross-border e-commerce exports of apparel reached 591 billion yuan, a 21.36% YoY increase, accounting for 32.48% of total cross-border e-commerce exports. Apparel has become a key category in cross-border e-commerce.
2. Platform Diversification
   • Platforms like Amazon, eBay, SHEIN, TEMU, and TikTok Shop provide diverse sales channels for textile and apparel enterprises.
     • SHEIN achieved a 3x higher inventory turnover rate than the industry average through its "small-batch, rapid-response" model.
     • Saiwei Times built a "brand matrix + overseas warehouse" system, achieving a 38% repurchase rate in European and U.S. markets.
3. Industrial Cluster Upgrades
   • Industrial clusters with cross-border service capabilities (e.g., Guangzhou women's wear, Keqiao fabrics) achieve 6-8% higher profit margins than traditional models.
     • In 2024, Shaoxing Keqiao District recorded 6.799 billion yuan in cross-border e-commerce exports, a 176.3% YoY increase, with over 2,000 participating enterprises.

II. Development Opportunities

1. Policy Support
   • The government has launched cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, improved retail import positive lists, and innovated customs supervision, driving cross-border e-commerce as a new growth engine for foreign trade.
2. Market Expansion
   • Three years after the RCEP took effect, tariff barriers have been reduced, and the rules of origin have deepened regional industrial chain integration. In 2024, China's textile and apparel exports to ASEAN grew by 6.8% YoY.
3. Emerging Market Growth
   • In 2024, exports to Belt and Road countries accounted for nearly 55% of total exports, with strong performance in markets like Bangladesh, Poland, and South Africa.
4. Consumer Demand Upgrades
   • Overseas consumers increasingly demand personalized, high-quality textile and apparel products, providing opportunities for enterprises to build global brands.

III. Challenges Faced

1. Trade Barriers
   • Western countries impose strict environmental requirements, such as the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the U.S.'s Clean Air Act, creating green trade barriers.
2. Supply Chain Restructuring
   • Countries like Vietnam and Cambodia leverage free trade agreements and low-cost advantages to attract orders. For example, Vietnam's textile and apparel products enjoy near-zero tariffs in major export markets.
3. Logistics and After-sales Issues
   • High international logistics costs, difficult returns, and inadequate brand protection affect consumer experience and increase operational costs for enterprises.
4. Compliance Risks
   • Cross-border e-commerce requires compliance with laws and regulations in various countries, including trade policies and consumer protection laws, posing higher demands on enterprises' compliance operations.

IV. Strategic Responses

1. Technological Innovation
   • Promote the intelligent manufacturing revolution, such as AI quality inspection and 5G flexible factories, to optimize energy consumption and shorten R&D cycles.
     • Example: Shenzhou International deployed an AI quality inspection system in its Vietnam factory, reducing the defect rate from 2.3% to 0.8%.
   • Leverage big data and AI to enhance supply chain efficiency and achieve a "small-batch, rapid-response" production model.
2. Brand Building
   • Focus on product R&D and consumer experience to build global brands.
     • Example: Guangzhou Xili Apparel secured orders from over 100 international clubs and universities through flexible customization of sportswear.
   • Strengthen intellectual property protection to enhance brand value.
3. Market Diversification
   • Explore emerging markets to reduce reliance on traditional European and U.S. markets.
     • Example: Nantong Home Textile Industry expanded sales to the Middle East through the Belt and Road Initiative.
   • Utilize cross-border e-commerce platforms to directly reach global consumers and reduce intermediary links.
4. Compliance Operations
   • Establish a carbon footprint traceability system to meet environmental requirements like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
   • Strengthen cooperation with overseas warehouses and logistics enterprises to improve logistics efficiency and after-sales service quality.
5. Talent Development
   • Strengthen the cultivation of cross-border e-commerce talents to enhance enterprises' operational and management capabilities.
     • Example: Dayang Education cultivates internationalized, compound new e-commerce talents in batches, building a talent cultivation system for Guangzhou's e-commerce industry.

This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the textile and apparel industry's cross-border e-commerce development, offering insights into its current status, opportunities, challenges, and strategic responses.