Fashion
South Africa textile imports edge up to $4.164 bn in 2025
In the corresponding period of ****, imports totalled **,***.* million rand, indicating broadly steady sourcing patterns. South Africa remains structurally dependent on imported textiles and apparel, sourcing heavily from low-cost Asian supply chains—particularly China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam—due to limited cost competitiveness, scale constraints, ageing machinery and persistent manufacturing bottlenecks in the domestic textile and apparel industry.
Exports of textiles and related articles grew at a faster pace, rising *.* per cent to **,***.* million rand (~$*.*** billion) in ****, compared with **,***.* million rand a year earlier.