Japan’s textile and apparel trade sector demonstrated robust performance throughout the first half of 2026. According to provisional data released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance, the country's imports of apparel and accessories rose by 6.0 percent year-on-year to 1,913,156 million yen, or approximately $11.728 billion.
The global textile industry is facing increasingly challenging dynamics following the latest report published by the International Textile Manufacturer Federation (ITMF). Through its International Textile Industry Statistics (ITIS) publication on productive capacity and raw materials consumption in the short-staple organized spinning mill sector across virtually all textile-producing countries worldwide, it was revealed that global capacity experienced a slight decline throughout 2024.
The European Union has launched a decisive move that is profoundly shaking the global apparel trade map following massive financial penalties totaling €750 million imposed on two Chinese e-commerce giants. This policy arrives amid a surge in foreign clothing imports to Europe, which reached $145 billion in 2025, with Chinese products further strengthening their dominance by capturing a market share of up to $42.09 billion, a 17.10 percent increase.
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