South Korea’s garment importing network experienced a noticeable rebound during the first three quarters of 2026, driven by sustained local demand for international apparel. Trade data released by the Korea Customs Service shows total apparel import values rising 4.19 per cent to hit $9.477 billion between January and September 2026.

Dual-category expansion drives inbound valuations

The import expansion was balanced across both knit and woven apparel categories. Imports of knitted garments increased by 4.12 per cent Y-o-Y to $4.68 billion while non-knitted apparel imports expanded by 4.26 per cent to $4.79 billion. Late-third-quarter dynamics rose sharply, with September apparel imports increasing by 11.23 per cent to $1.25 billion.

Domestic fiber exports facing structural headwinds

While consumer demand for finished garments remains resilient, South Korea’s upstream textile manufacturing ecosystem faces headwinds. Upstream exports of man-made filaments and knitted fabrics dropped notably during the nine-month period, reflecting a broader structural transition toward final-stage garment sourcing over domestic fiber manufacturing. Korean consumer markets show consistent demand for global apparel, but shifting raw material dynamics continue to squeeze local mills, notes a Seoul-based trade analyst.

Supporting domestic supply chain resilience with real-time trade telemetry

The Korea Customs Service is the government agency responsible for monitoring international trade flows, managing customs duties, and issuing trade statistics across Korean economic sectors. Focusing on East Asian trade channels, the agency provides real-time trade telemetry to support domestic supply chain resilience and national trade policy planning.