The report first reviews the latest developments in international cooperation. In 2025, China's textile and apparel exports remained under overall pressure, but the trade structure continued to improve. ASEAN remained the largest export market, while companies accelerated their global expansion and outbound investment stayed highly concentrated in Asia, with Vietnam as the core destination. Against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring, geopolitical competition, trade barriers and cost pressure have become the main challenges for overseas expansion. The industry is also shifting from passive capacity relocation to a more proactive global deployment strategy.

It then assesses future trends and compares key target countries. Industry investment is focused mainly on manufacturing and dyeing, raw material supply and intelligent manufacturing. Southeast Asia remains the core region for overseas expansion, while South Asia and Africa are also increasingly covered. Key countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa each offer different strengths in industry base, cost structure and location, but also face differentiated risks including policy volatility, inadequate supporting infrastructure and market competition. On this basis, the report argues that companies need to weigh three major strategic choices in going overseas: proactive expansion versus passive relocation, quick market entry versus cautious deployment, and market orientation versus cost priority. It also provides reference guidance from three dimensions - strategic planning, execution tactics and talent development. Finally, the report makes clear that the China National Textile and Apparel Council's Office for International Trade will provide comprehensive support for companies' overseas expansion through trade research, investment promotion services and multiple overseas business missions.