China
People's Republic of China │ 中华人民共和国
China is the world's largest exporter of textiles, with annual export revenues of USD 293.6 billion in 2023 and an annual share of GDP at 8.7 per cent. Almost 8 million people are employed in the textile industry. All stages of textile production are found in China. Most of the raw materials come from national markets. Besides the export of mostly higher quality products, a large part of the production is for the national market.
Since China's accession to the World Trade Organization in December 2001, the expiration of the World Textile Agreement at the end of 2004, and the lifting of trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. and the EU a few years later, the Chinese textile and garment industry has experienced unprecedented growth. China rose to become the most important player in world trade for textiles and apparel and is not only an important trading partner of the USA and EU, but also of many countries in Asia and Africa.
Population
Total
1,425,671,352 (2023)
Gross Domestic Product
GDP per Capita (constant USD, thousand)
$11,560.24 (2022)
Human Development Index Ranking
HDI Rank (out of 191 countries)
75 (2022)
Garment/Textile Workers
Number of workers in the garment/textile sector
7,829,000 (2023)
Women Workers in the Garment/Textile Industry
Percentage of women workers employed in the garment/textile industry
Over 60% (2019)
Number of Garment/Textile Factories
Number of factories in the garment/textile industry
322,000 (enterprises) (2019)
Garment/Textile Industry Exports
(USD$ billion)
USD 293.6 billion (2023)
Garment/Textile Industry Size
Percentage of total exports
8.7% (2023)
Minimum Wage
Monthly minimum wage in USD
USD 340 ≅ 2,420 RMB (2023)
Key Garment/Textile Export Markets
Top five countries ($USD value exported and subsequent percentage)
| Country | Percentage of Exports |
|---|---|
| United States | 20.7% |
| Japan | 7.7% |
| European Union | 16.8% |
| ASEAN | 10.7% |
Government Entities
Government agencies actively involved in the garment/textile industry
- Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM)
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS)
- Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
- National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)
Worker Organizations
Trade unions, Union federations, and other worker organizations
- All-China Federation of Trade Union (ACFTU)
- IndustriALL
Employer/Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce
Employers and industry related associations, private sectors associations and chambers of commerce
- China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC)
- China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textile and Apparel (CCCT)
Development Agencies/ International Organizations
National and international development organizations working within the garment/textile industry
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH FABRIC
- Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE/ILO)
- Responsible Supply Chains in Asia
- Global Deal for Decent Work and Inclusive Growth
- Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC)
- Sino-German Center for Sustainable Development (CSD)
- Emerging Market Sustainability Dialogues (EMSD)
- Support of Regional Economic Cooperation in Asia (SRECA)
Civil Society Organizations/ Non-governmental Organizations
Organizations working within the garment/textile industry
- Action, Collaboration, Transformation (ACT)
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Sources of data provided
- Population: https://population.un.org/dataportal/data/indicators/49/locations/156/start/2023/end/2023/table
- GDP Per Capita: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.KD
- HDI: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/CHN
- Garment / Textile Workers:
Garment:
https://www.miit.gov.cn/gxsj/tjfx/xfpgy/fz/art/2023/art_ea6c6d3f71fb4d8b8f1069f1fcfd7c7a.html
Chemical fiber:
https://www.miit.gov.cn/gxsj/tjfx/xfpgy/fz/art/2023/art_e48b31ea838f41a49c0f292a8a586d07.html
Textile:
https://www.miit.gov.cn/gxsj/tjfx/xfpgy/fz/art/2023/art_a0b04c38f03c4fb3ad12fe21a00ef989.html - Women Workers in the Garment /Textile Industry: http://csc9000.org.cn/People.php?lm=%E5%AE%B6%E5%BA%AD%E5%8F%8B%E5%A5%BD%E6%94%BF%E7%AD%96%E9%A1%B9%E7%9B%AE
- Number of Garment / Textile Enterprises: http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/zxfb/201911/t20191119_1710336.html
- Garment / Textile Industry Export Market: https://www.cntac.org.cn/zixun/shuju/202401/t20240129_4339920.html
- Garment / Textile Industry Size: http://www.customs.gov.cn//customs/302249/zfxxgk/2799825/302274/302277/302276/5637234/index.html
- Minimum Wage: https://wageindicator.cn/salary/minimumwagesinchina/6824-53174eac
- Key Garment / Textile Export Markets: http://news.ctei.cn/trade/jckxx/202307/t20230731_4319386.htm