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South Korea's apparel imports ease 2.3% in Jan–Oct

05 Dec '25

3 min read

South Korea's apparel imports ease 2.3% in Jan–Oct

Pic: Shutterstock.com

Insights

South Korea's apparel imports fell slightly in Jan–Oct, while imports in Oct saw a sharper drop.
Knitted categories proved more resilient than non-knitted items.
Textile exports continued to contract as production shifted offshore and global competition increased.
The divergence highlights weakening upstream competitiveness and sustained reliance on *** for garment supply.

Imports of knitted apparel and clothing accessories (Chapter **) were valued at $*.*** billion in the first ten months of ****, slightly lower than $*.*** billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. Knitted categories remain relatively resilient due to stable year-round demand for basics and athleisure, even as overall apparel spending moderates.

Meanwhile, imports of non-knitted apparel and clothing accessories (Chapter **) totalled $*.*** billion, down *.** per cent from $*.*** billion in January–October ****. Non-knitted segments, which rely more heavily on fashion-driven seasonal ranges, saw sharper reductions as buyers trimmed orders to manage risks linked to slower turnover and elevated promotional activity.