Since the beginning of this year, the global textile supply chain has undergone continuous and profound adjustments. Southeast Asia, leveraging its cost and trade advantages, has become an important growth pole for the global textile industry. According to the customs data of Cambodia, in the first quarter of 2026, the export value of clothing and footwear products in the country reached 3.21 billion US dollars, increasing by 8.2% year-on-year. The industry's resilience has continued to be evident. During the same period, China's PTA exports maintained a favorable trend, with an export volume of 311,300 tons in March, and Southeast Asian and neighboring regions such as India and Vietnam became the core export markets. 

The export of textile and footwear products from Cambodia has been steadily increasing.

In the first quarter, the export value of clothing and apparel products from Cambodia reached 2.69 billion US dollars, up by 7.5% year-on-year, accounting for 83.8% of the total export value of textile and footwear. Among them, the export value of knitted clothing was 1.58 billion US dollars, up by 7.7% year-on-year; the export value of non-knitted clothing exceeded 1 billion US dollars, up by 3.4% year-on-year. Other textiles also stood out, with an export value of only 110 million US dollars, but it increased significantly by 61.1% year-on-year, indicating the potential expansion in areas such as bedding and decorative textiles in Cambodia. The export value of footwear products reached 520 million US dollars, up by 11.8% year-on-year, with a growth rate higher than that of clothing categories. 

China's PTA Export Volume Stays Stable with Quality Improvement

In March 2026, China's PTA export volume was 311,300 tons. The exports were concentrated in India, Vietnam, Egypt, Russia and Bangladesh, with the top five markets accounting for over 80% of the total. Among them, India rose to become the top export region for that month, with an export volume of approximately 112,000 tons, a significant increase compared to February, accounting for 35.99% of the total export volume. Vietnam and Egypt ranked second and third respectively, with export volumes of 68,400 tons and 39,000 tons respectively. Southeast Asia and South Asia regions accounted for over 60% of China's PTA exports, becoming the core growth engine for China's PTA exports. 

Chain Industry Linkage and Cooperation Prospects

Over 90% of the fabrics and raw materials for the textile and footwear industry in Cambodia rely on imports. China is one of its important raw material suppliers. The growth in Cambodia's clothing exports in the first quarter has driven the export demand for upstream raw materials such as PTA and polyester fibers in China; China's stable raw material supply has also provided support for the expansion of Cambodia's textile industry. As the global consumer market gradually recovers and combined with the favorable trade policies of Southeast Asian countries, the textile industry in this region is expected to maintain stable growth, thereby continuously driving the export demand for China's PTA and textile raw materials.