When the pressure of a slight decrease of 5.3% in the overall export volume of goods trade between China and Russia in 2025 is transmitted to various industries, there is a category that has emerged as an independent market - textiles and clothing, rising against the trend with a year-on-year growth rate of 8.2%, becoming a "dark horse" to stabilize foreign trade.
In this blue ocean full of opportunities, professional exhibitions are becoming the "breaking key" for Chinese clothing enterprises.
2025 China Russia trade trend: Clothing trade rises against the trend
Although China Russia trade is facing short-term adjustments in 2025, the structural opportunities are becoming increasingly clear. According to the monthly monitoring report of the University of International Business and Economics, the cumulative import and export volume of goods trade between China and Russia from January to April was 71.12 billion US dollars, of which exports were 30.81 billion US dollars. It is worth noting that, against the backdrop of a slight decrease of 5.3% in overall exports, the textile and clothing category grew at a year-on-year rate of 8.2% against the trend. The export value from January to April reached 2.63 billion US dollars, accounting for 8.5% of the total export value to Russia, becoming an important force in stabilizing foreign trade.
From a long-term perspective, the foundation of China Russia trade cooperation continues to solidify. The size of the Russian textile and clothing market is expanding at an average annual rate of 8%, and is expected to exceed 5 billion US dollars by 2030, providing a vast market space for Chinese enterprises.
The three major growth points of clothing trade: stepping on the pain points of market demand
1. Category demand differentiation, functionality and localization are key factors
The unique climate and consumption habits in Russia have given rise to clear category opportunities: there has been a surge in demand for warm clothing in regions such as Siberia, and synthetic cold resistant clothing continues to be popular; Cowboy clothing is highly favored by consumers due to its strong adaptability and has become a perennial hot selling category; At the same time, the growth rate of segmented fields such as sports and leisure, home underwear, etc. is significant.
2. Dual support of policies and infrastructure, upgrading trade facilitation
Russia's Far East Development Plan has reduced tariffs on clothing and other categories to 5%, directly lowering export costs for enterprises; On the logistics side, the capacity of China Europe freight trains has increased by 30%, and the Moscow warehouse has achieved "2-3 day delivery", solving the time pain point of cross-border trade; On the settlement end, 95% of China Russia trade is settled in RMB or Ruble, effectively avoiding the risk of USD fluctuations and clearing obstacles for the large-scale development of clothing trade.
3. There is a large gap in local supply, and the penetration rate of Chinese brands continues to increase
The foundation of Russia's light industry is weak, and clothing is highly dependent on imports. Although local Russian brands are gradually developing, there is still a gap between Russia and Chinese enterprises in design innovation, production capacity scale, and supply chain efficiency. In addition, the "2020-2025 Development Strategy" promoted by the Russian government aims to improve local supply, but it is still difficult to fill the market gap in the short term, which provides a window of opportunity for Chinese enterprises.
Participating in professional clothing exhibitions: a must-have for seizing the market
Against the backdrop of accelerated development of clothing trade between China and Russia, professional exhibitions have become a key entry point for enterprises to tap into the Russian market
1. Accurately connect resources and efficiently convert business opportunities
Professional clothing exhibitions attract professional buyers to come and purchase, and through precise matching in the early stage, exhibitors can connect with an average of 5-20 potential buyers. The efficiency of face-to-face communication cannot be replaced by online communication.
2. Master market dynamics first-hand and avoid risks of going abroad
The exhibition is a barometer for understanding the Russian market, inviting experts to interpret fashion trends, logistics rules, certification issues, and helping companies quickly grasp practical information such as EAC certification processes and localized design points, in order to avoid goods being stranded or destroyed due to unfamiliarity with rules.
3. Establish brand awareness at low cost and seize market opportunities
Exhibitions are an efficient platform for brand exposure, and media coverage can quickly increase brand exposure in the target market, as well as obtain the demand of the Russian market in a timely manner. Data shows that the brand awareness of participating companies has increased by 47% compared to non participating companies, and the cooperation period with local distributors has been shortened by nearly 3 months.
The golden age of clothing trade between China and Russia has arrived. The China (Hebei) International Clothing Expo will be held from March 21-23, 2026. We sincerely invite you to come!
Seize the business opportunity of dialogue with 146 million consumers through the power of exhibitions.
