Focus | China’s “Denim Capital” Gains Global Popularity as Garment Exports Reach RMB 4.2 Billion from January to August

Recently, at the production facility of Guangzhou Qiqi Textile & Garment Group Co., Ltd., located in Xintang Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, production lines have been running at full capacity as workers work around the clock to fulfill customer orders.

“We continuously innovate our denim fabrics and styles based on the body shapes and preferences of overseas consumers. Our products have been well received in international markets, and we expect our annual output value to reach RMB 200 million this year,” said Cao Xiaoqi, the company’s head.

“The world looks to China for denim, and China looks to Xintang.”

Xintang Town is home to more than 4,000 enterprises engaged in denim apparel manufacturing and related supporting industries. It has developed into one of China’s largest and most comprehensive denim apparel production clusters, featuring a complete industrial chain, large-scale annual production, a broad range of product categories and grades, and significant export capacity.

Known as “China’s Denim Capital,” Xintang has approximately 80% of its garment enterprises engaged in export business, making it an important hub for China’s denim apparel industry and international trade.

Zengcheng Customs Visits Denim Manufacturing Enterprises

To support traditional industries in expanding into overseas markets, Zengcheng Customs, under Huangpu Customs, closely monitors developments in the garment industry and the needs of local enterprises.

The customs authorities provide targeted policy briefings and business guidance to help companies proactively respond to foreign technical trade measures. They also assist enterprises in making full use of policy benefits under programs and agreements such as AEO mutual recognition, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), helping local businesses expand their export operations.

According to statistics, from January to August this year, enterprises within the jurisdiction of Zengcheng Customs exported garments and clothing accessories worth RMB 4.2 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 22.3%.

Digital Transformation Creates New Opportunities for Xintang Denim

Xintang International Denim Trading City is the largest professional wholesale market for denim apparel in China. It brings together a large number of local suppliers, many of which serve overseas customers.

“Xintang has a highly mature denim apparel industrial chain, with a large concentration of small and medium-sized enterprises. Short production cycles and fast delivery times make the region highly competitive in the market,” said Lin Liangsen, head of Xintang International Denim Trading City.

“However, in the past, businesses mainly relied on traditional general trade. Large orders could sometimes result in excess inventory. The market has changed, and there is now a greater demand for digitalization and flexible manufacturing. For us, this presents both challenges and opportunities.”

In response to these changes, Zengcheng Customs is actively supporting the development of the “Cross-Border E-Commerce + Industrial Cluster” model.

Through strengthened supervision and optimized services, the customs authorities are working to address operational challenges throughout the cross-border e-commerce process, including customs transit procedures, returns, and tax refunds. They are also building platforms to connect leading cross-border e-commerce companies with local denim apparel manufacturers.

At present, more than 200 local garment enterprises and merchants in Zengcheng have leveraged cross-border e-commerce to transform and expand their export businesses.

Supporting Smart Manufacturing and Digital Upgrading

To meet the needs of traditional industries seeking new growth opportunities, Zengcheng Customs has also worked with local government departments to assess the current level of digital transformation within the garment industry.

Based on the operational models and international trade practices of different enterprises, the authorities provide guidance on customs supervision policies for cross-border e-commerce that are suited to individual business models.

By drawing on the digital empowerment models of leading e-commerce platforms, Zengcheng Customs is supporting local enterprises in accelerating their digital and intelligent transformation, expanding exports, and promoting deeper integration between the real economy and the digital economy.

Building a New Hub for Advanced Textile and Garment Manufacturing

At present, Guangzhou's Eastern Central Area is working to develop an innovation demonstration base for the textile and garment industry in the Greater Bay Area, promoting the transformation of textile and garment manufacturing from traditional production toward advanced intelligent manufacturing.

Looking ahead, Zengcheng Customs will continue to leverage Xintang’s advantages as a major denim industry cluster and strengthen its brand and industrial strengths. Through continued reform and innovation, improved services, technical trade research, streamlined customs clearance, and enterprise-oriented policy support, the customs authorities will actively promote the “Cross-Border E-Commerce + Industrial Cluster” model.

These efforts are expected to further support the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and inject new vitality into the local textile and garment sector.

Source: Guangzhou Daily; China Textile