In 2024, China's total used clothing recycling volume reached 9.47 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 23.6%, but the recycling rate was only 15.2%, far below the 35%-45% level of developed countries. According to the "Renewable Resource Industry Development Report" released by the National Development and Reform Commission in March 2025, the annual output value of the used clothing recycling industry has exceeded 128 billion yuan, driving employment for over 2.3 million people. In terms of exports, data from the General Administration of Customs shows that in 2024, China exported 637,000 tons of second-hand clothing, earning approximately 2.98 billion USD in foreign exchange, with the African market accounting for as much as 53.2%.

Key Points

  • In 2024, the national total used clothing recycling volume was 9.47 million tons, with a recycling rate of 15.2%, and the industry's annual output value exceeded 128 billion yuan
  • In 2024, 637,000 tons of second-hand clothing were exported, earning 298 million USD in foreign exchange, with Africa accounting for 53.2% of export volume
  • The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Specification for the Recycling and Processing of Waste Textiles" in February 2025, clarifying requirements for each stage of recycling, sorting, disinfection, and processing for the first time

Intelligent Sorting Drives Significant Cost Reduction

The first stop for used clothing recycling is the sorting center. An intelligent sorting center in Shanghai that began operations in 2024 processes up to 25 tons of used clothing per day. Through the coordination of optical recognition, AI algorithms, and robotic arms, clothing is precisely classified into 42 grades. A T-shirt takes only 8 seconds from entering the line to completing grade classification, with an accuracy rate of 97.3%. Intelligentization has reduced the per-item processing cost in the sorting stage from 0.82 yuan in 2020 to 0.27 yuan in 2025.

Exports and Domestic Sales Form a Value Gradient

After sorting, clothing flows to different markets. Top brands and well-preserved clothing account for about 8.3% of the total, entering the second-hand luxury market or domestic high-end second-hand platforms. In 2024, transactions of second-hand clothing from brands such as LV and Chanel on one platform reached 3.76 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 41.2%. Ordinary brand clothing in good condition accounts for about 23.5%, flowing to second-hand clothing stores or online trading platforms; in the first quarter of 2025, the user scale of domestic second-hand trading apps exceeded 380 million, with clothing accounting for 27.3% of total transactions. Export destinations are concentrated in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Statistics from the Kenya Second-Hand Clothing Association show that about 67% of local residents mainly purchase second-hand clothing, with Chinese sources accounting for 21.6% of its total imports.

Clothing That Cannot Be Worn Again Is Redirected to Regeneration and Utilization

About 25%-30% of recycled clothing cannot be directly reused due to fabric damage, outdated styles, or hygiene issues, and is usually processed into industrial wiping cloths, filling materials, or regenerated fibers. A 2024 report by the China National Textile and Apparel Council pointed out that domestic annual production of regenerated fibers reached 2.87 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 18.3%, with raw materials provided by used clothing recycling accounting for 32.5%. For every 1 ton of used clothing recycled, 0.34 tons of coal and 1,420 tons of water can be saved, and carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 3.6 tons.

Policy Standardization and Industry Challenges Coexist

The level of industry standardization still needs improvement. In 2024, only 37 used clothing recycling enterprises in China obtained ISO14001 environmental management system certification, compared with 327 in the European Union during the same period. The "Specification for the Recycling and Processing of Waste Textiles" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in February 2025 put forward clear requirements for recycling, sorting, disinfection, processing, and other stages for the first time. Cost pressure is also prominent—in 2024, industry labor costs increased by 17.3% year-on-year, logistics costs increased by 9.8%, while recycling prices rose only 4.2%.

Brand Participation and Channel Transformation

In 2024, 183 domestic and international brands carried out used clothing recycling activities in China, a year-on-year increase of 56.4%. H&M Group recycled 1,265 tons, and Uniqlo recycled 982 tons. In terms of channels, door-to-door recycling booked through apps accounted for 38.7% of total recycling volume, while the share of community recycling bins dropped to 41.3%. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology predicts that by 2027, China's used clothing recycling rate will increase to 25%, and the industry scale will exceed 200 billion yuan.

Source: Comment 1 · Originally published on 2025-11-09