Jul 23, 2025 (MarketLine via COMTEX) --
China is introducing a cotton yarn train in in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to cut logistics costs for Xinjiang cotton, however fashion industry experts warn this could incentivise Chinese mills to use more Xinjiang cotton, which is alleged to be made from forced labour.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade explains Xinjiang railways have consolidated scattered cotton textile shipments to help enterprises reduce logistics costs, with shipments of cotton yarn, cotton cloth and other cotton textiles having reached 234,000 tonnes so far this year.A
It says two fixed train routes have been established in southern Xinjiang with one linking Aksu and the Yangtze River Delta region in the eastern coast and the other connecting Aksu (and Kashgar) with the Pearl River Delta region in the south.
It adds these routes have resulted in over 200 regular train services that reach more than 20 railway stations across five provincial areas, including destinations like Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Guangdong.
Railway staff have also engaged more directly to strengthen the cotton and textile supply chain by visiting locations such as Shihezi and Kuytun in northern Xinjiang.
They have developed logistics solutions for dispersed textile companies, providing technical support and comprehensive tracking for cargo loading and delivery, according to local news reports.
Li He, general manager of a supply chain management company, was quoted as saying: "Through close cooperation with Urumqi Railway logistics centre, dedicated trains from northern Xinjiang are expected to cut transport time by more than half from 14 days to six days, further enhancing the market competitiveness of Xinjiang's cotton textile products."
Fashion sector concerned over new train incentivising Xinjiang cotton Outside of China, the fashion industry and international governments try to avoid any connection with Xinjiang cotton within their supply chains due to concerns it is made from forced labour.
National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas tells Just Style exclusively the new fast-speed trains transporting cotton produced with forced labour in Xinjiang to manufacturing hubs across the country "are extremely concerning and should raise red flags for US trade officials".
She adds: "It has been well documented that Chinese cotton produced with forced labour in Xinjiang is flooding the global marketplace and entering the US market as downstream products.
"Some 75% of all Chinese cotton products contain Xinjiang cotton, which leads to textiles and apparel made with forced labor bleeding into global supply chains, most notably in Asia but also in our free trade agreement regions. In addition, the scourge of slave labour in Xinjiang involves not only cotton but extends to man-made fibre products."
She claims that despite the enactment of the US' Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which took effect three years ago, tainted Xinjiang cotton continues to bleed into Chinese and global supply chains.
Glas states: "An estimated 80% of ChinaaEUR(TM)s cotton-based apparel is considered to contain Xinjiang cotton aEUR" now this cotton is going to accelerate through the global supply chain on a speed train.AThis is why we need significant stepped-up US enforcement and scrutiny of all Chinese apparel and textile imports and global imports."
Plus, she asserts that neighbouring Asian countries that make goods from China cotton will also need to be scrutinised.
Glas urges US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ramp up UFLPA enforcement, inspections and penalties to prevent forced labour textile and apparel goods from entering the market and to help mitigate the harm to the US textile industry, which she says has shuttered several textile plants over the past two years.
Professor of apparel studies at the University of Delaware, Dr Sheng Lu tells Just Style a 2022 study by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows China has already been subsidising the transportation of Xinjiang cotton to other provinces on the eastern coast, where textile mills are concentrated.
He explains: "The new railways could reduce logistics costs and incentivise Chinese mills to use more Xinjiang cotton instead of imported ones."
However, in its July 2025 market analysis, he says: "USDA forecasted a decline in ChinaaEUR(TM)s cotton imports in 2025/2026 due to increased domestic production aEUR" mainly in Xinjiang aEUR" and weaker demand for cotton caused by factors like ChinaaEUR(TM)s shrinking apparel exports amid the tariff war".
A report from USDA in May also predicted China's domestic cotton production would increase while US imports would decline during 2025 due to a lull in demand from the US fashion industry.
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COMTEX_467506303/2227/2025-07-23T09:46:13
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