SHEIN Xu Yangtian makes a rare appearance, announcing an additional investment of over 10 billion yuan in Guangdong

On February 24, at the 2026 Guangdong High-Quality Development Conference, SHEIN founder and chairman Xu Yantian appeared at the scene and spoke as a corporate representative.

He stated that SHEIN has been based in Guangzhou since 2014, maintaining rapid growth, with platform exports exceeding 100 billion yuan in 2025. He also announced that SHEIN plans to invest over 10 billion yuan in Guangdong over the next three years to build a smart supply chain.

During his speech, Xu Yantian revealed that SHEIN’s business covers more than 160 countries and regions, and has grown into one of the world’s top three fashion retailers. Previously, the Hurun Research Institute released the “2025 Global Unicorn List,” showing SHEIN with a valuation of 365 billion yuan, ranking ninth globally.

Xu Yantian shared three insights: first, Guangdong’s complete industrial ecosystem and first-class business environment have contributed to SHEIN’s rapid growth. SHEIN’s connection with Guangdong began with a deep recognition of its industrial ecosystem, from clothing factories in Panyu, logistics hubs in Baiyun, to cross-border e-commerce ecosystems across the province, forming the core support for SHEIN’s “small order, quick response” model, enabling it to compress the cycle from design draft to delivery to 2-3 weeks.

Regarding the secret to the company’s rapid growth, Xu Yantian attributed it to Guangdong’s comprehensive industrial ecosystem and a business environment of “no disturbance unless asked, responsive to needs.” He said, “Today, SHEIN has nearly 10,000 suppliers in Guangdong, driving employment for over 600,000 people in the province. Guangdong has truly become our fertile ground for development.”

Second, the deep integration of manufacturing and service industries has built SHEIN’s global business footprint. Relying on new cross-border e-commerce models and digitalization, SHEIN embeds user demand insights, supply chain responsiveness, and global service networks into the entire manufacturing chain, continuously exploring new paths for the integration of manufacturing and services.

Third, SHEIN will fulfill its social responsibilities as a chain-leading enterprise and fully serve Guangdong’s high-quality export of manufacturing.

Xu Yantian stated that over the next three years, SHEIN will deeply participate in pilot projects combining cross-border e-commerce with industrial belts in Guangdong, allowing more small and medium factories to benefit from cross-border e-commerce, and helping Guanggoods to go global steadily and far. The company will continue to invest in supply chain empowerment and talent development, further enhance the digital transformation of traditional manufacturing, and export more versatile talents to the Greater Bay Area.

It is known that Xu Yantian is very mysterious; he rarely appears publicly or makes speeches.

Public information shows that Xu Yantian, male, born in 1984 in Zibo, Shandong, graduated in 2007 from Qingdao University of Science and Technology with a major in International Trade. In 2025, he ranked 640th on the Hurun Global Rich List with a wealth of 40 billion yuan.

In 2008, Xu Yantian founded Nanjing Dianwei Information Technology Co., Ltd., engaging in cross-border trade. SHEIN initially started as his wedding dress brand, gradually expanding into women’s clothing, accessories, and home goods. Under his leadership, SHEIN quickly grew into a global unicorn.

In 2012, SHEIN moved its headquarters to Guangzhou; in January 2022, SHEIN’s main domestic entity, Guangzhou SHEIN International Import & Export Co., Ltd., was changed to Singaporean company Roadget Business Pte. Ltd. In May 2023, SHEIN launched a platform model. In June 2024, SHEIN Exchange, a second-hand trading platform, went live in Europe. In November 2025, SHEIN was banned from operating online businesses in France.

In July 2025, SHEIN was reported to have secretly submitted an application for listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is seeking approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Currently, there is no further public information on the progress of SHEIN’s IPO in London or Hong Kong.

According to data from consulting firm Global Data, SHEIN has surpassed ZARA, H&M, and Uniqlo to become the third-largest fashion retailer globally.

In November 2025, foreign media reported that SHEIN executives and investors communicated that the company increased profit margins through price hikes and cost reductions, overcoming negative impacts from tariffs, and expected net profit to reach $2 billion in 2025.

Risk Warning and Disclaimer

Market risks exist; investments should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not consider individual users’ specific investment goals, financial situations, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their particular circumstances. Investment based on this information is at their own risk.