CPEC 2 brings Chinese textile units, and a new rival for local mills

It seems like Pakistan's so-called 'vibrant' textile sector is on its way towards a modest improvement in terms of earning export revenues for calendar year 2025; however, for 2026, a majority of textile pundits are sensing a declining trend due to tariff reshufflings and strategic shifts by global players, particularly the United States under Trump 2.0 and the People's Republic of China, as both seek to protect their domestic industries. According to official statistics, during the first eleven months of calendar year 2025, textile exports posted a growth of around 15.7%. The sector earned $17.85 billion during the period, compared to $15.43 billion in the corresponding period of the previous calendar year.