China as an Apparel Importer

China is considered to be the single largest apparelexporter in the world. However, with the evolution of the globaltextile & apparel sector over the past decade, it is the time toseriously study China as a fast-growing apparel import market.

   

First and foremost, it is a wrong perception that Chinese consumers only consume clothing “made in China”. In Zara’s stores in Shanghai, over 90% of stock-keeping units are imported, with Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and Viet Nam and being the main import sources.

   However, like any other countries in the world, the apparel import market in China also has its unique features & patterns. For example, woven men’s wear accounted for almost 1/3 of China’s total apparel imports. As another important feature: in 2012, 83% and 13% of China’s apparel imports came from Asia and Europe respectively, leaving only 4% market share for the rest of the world.

   Many famous international brands set up mainly in first-tier cities and then establish their presence in second-tier cities. Currently, the tendency is for famous brands to penetrate into more second-tier cities. Among the first-tier cities, Shanghai plays a significant role in setting fashion trends on the mainland. Therefore, many foreign and domestic apparel suppliers choose to first establish a foothold in Shanghai before seeking further expansion.