South Korea recorded a positive growth trajectory in its readymade apparel import sector during the first half of 2026, signaling strong domestic market momentum amidst global economic challenges. According to the latest data from Trademap, the country's total apparel import value increased slightly by 2.27 per cent to reach $5.658 billion between January and June 2026, compared to $5.531 billion during the same period in 2025. Notably, import shipments witnessed higher growth rates as the reporting period progressed toward mid-year.
Cambodia's trade-facing manufacturing base is entering a tougher 2026, with resilient garment exports remaining a key support while higher energy costs, border-related disruptions, and financial-sector confidence pressures test the economy, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). Manufacturing served as the main growth engine in 2025 for apparel exporters, importers, and sourcing teams, supported by resilient garment exports and sustained foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows despite the introduction of US reciprocal tariffs. AMRO noted in its 2026 Annual Consultation Report (ACR) that Cambodia's economy expanded by 5.3 percent in 2025, outperforming earlier expectations despite multiple shocks, but projected growth to moderate to 4.2 percent in 2026 as higher energy prices and continued border-related disruptions weigh on activity.
Indonesia’s Textile and Textile Product (TPT) sector has recently posted a promising statistical figure with a 6.36% year-on-year growth rate, outperforming national economic growth and the general non-oil and gas manufacturing sector. Yet, beneath these robust macro-level figures, the reality on the ground tells a different story: widespread layoffs in labor-intensive centers and a structural collapse in domestic supply chains caused by predatory import dumping. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of this economic paradox.
Global apparel brands and textile manufacturers are rapidly reengineering their procurement strategies, pivoting away from traditional commodity fibers toward high-tenacity, circular, and eco-certified materials. This structural realignment is heavily driven by stringent international regulatory frameworks, most notably the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which enforces strict material traceability and recycled content thresholds across imported textiles.
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