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China strengthens grip on Korea's apparel imports despite slowdown

Total South Korean apparel imports stood at $**.*** billion in the first ten months of ****, down from $**.*** billion in the same period of ****. Imports from China, however, increased to $*.*** billion from $*.*** billion, lifting China’s share to **.** per cent from **.** per cent a year earlier, according to *fashion.com/market-intelligence/texpro-textile-and-apparel/" target="_blank">sourcing intelligence tool TexPro. Over the longer term, China has steadily strengthened its position, accounting for **.** per cent of South Korea’s apparel imports in ****, **.** per cent in **** and **.** per cent in ****.

In contrast, South Korea’s imports of textile intermediates weakened in ****. Fabric imports declined to $***.*** million during January–October **** from $***.*** million a year earlier. Imports from China also fell in value to $***.*** million, though China’s share increased to **.** per cent from **.** per cent, reflecting sharper declines from other suppliers. A similar pattern was seen in yarn. Total yarn imports slipped to $*.*** billion from $*.*** billion, while imports from China eased to $***.*** million. Despite the drop, China’s share rose to **.** per cent from **.** per cent, confirming its dominant role in Korea’s upstream textile imports.