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Fashion · Report

Knitting Industry Statistics

Global knitwear grows fast, with sustainable fibers, rising machines, and labor challenges.

Knitting is booming into a USD 122.6 billion global knitted-fabric future, powered by fast-growing demand for knitwear, massive fiber supply chains, and mounting pressure to make every stitch cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable.

Alexander EserWritten byAlexander EserCo-Founder, Rawshot.ai
UpdatedApril 19, 2026Read11 minSources63 verified

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Research reviewed

Global knitwear grows fast, with sustainable fibers, rising machines, and labor challenges.

  • 2022 global knitted fabric market size was valued at USD 78.3 billion

  • The global knitted fabric market size was projected to reach USD 122.6 billion by 2030

  • The knitted fabric market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2023 to 2030

  • Global cotton yarn production in 2023 was 114.3 million metric tons (cotton yarn)

  • Global man-made fiber (MMF) staple production in 2023 was 54.2 million metric tons

  • Global synthetic fiber production in 2023 was 64.6 million metric tons

  • The global knitting machines market size was USD 2.3 billion in 2022

  • The global knitting machines market is expected to reach USD 3.9 billion by 2029

  • The knitting machines market forecast CAGR was 8.3% from 2023 to 2029

  • In an ILO report, women account for 75% of the workforce in ready-made garment sector (knitwear related)

  • In an ILO report, youth (under 30) account for 25% of garment workforce

  • In the ILO, garment workers report average weekly working hours of 48 hours

  • Global textile and apparel sector greenhouse gas emissions were about 2.1 billion tonnes CO2e in 2018 (knitwear part of sector)

  • The textile industry’s share of global emissions was about 4% (textile sector)

  • Apparel and footwear use phase water consumption was 79 billion cubic meters per year (textiles)

Section 01

Employment & Labor

  1. In an ILO report, women account for 75% of the workforce in ready-made garment sector (knitwear related) [1]

  2. In an ILO report, youth (under 30) account for 25% of garment workforce [1]

  3. In the ILO, garment workers report average weekly working hours of 48 hours [2]

  4. In the ILO, 57% of garment workers report experiencing harassment [3]

  5. In the ILO, 39% of workers report wages are not sufficient for basic needs [4]

  6. In 2021, garment industry employment in Bangladesh was 4.0 million workers [5]

  7. In 2020, garment industry employment in Vietnam was 2.7 million workers [6]

  8. In 2022, garment industry employment in India was 12.5 million workers (knitwear & apparel) [7]

  9. In 2023, garment workers in Cambodia were estimated at 700,000 (knitwear & apparel) [8]

  10. In Pakistan, garment and knitwear workers were estimated at 1.5 million in 2021 [9]

  11. In Sri Lanka, apparel workers were estimated at 300,000 in 2022 [10]

  12. In a 2018 Better Work study, 61% of garment workers reported being paid less than minimum wage [11]

  13. In a 2019 Better Work report, 34% of workers reported excessive overtime [12]

  14. In the ILO, 14.9% of workers in garment sector are employed in hazardous work (percent) [13]

  15. In the ILO, 8.6% of workers report experiencing injuries in past year [13]

  16. In the ILO, 46% of workers did not have a written contract [13]

  17. In a 2020 OECD report, 30% of garment workers were informal [14]

  18. In the ILO, 69% of garment workers have no social protection coverage [15]

  19. In Bangladesh, labor force survey estimated unemployment rate of 4.2% in 2022 [16]

  20. In the Bangladesh BGMEA report, knitwear factories employed 1.2 million workers in 2021 [17]

  21. In the Turkish textile sector, women employment share in textile and apparel was 34% in 2021 [18]

  22. In Pakistan’s textile sector, average monthly earnings increased to PKR 29,000 in 2022 [19]

  23. In China, textile industry employment was 4.7 million in 2022 [20]

Section 02

Environment & Sustainability

  1. Global textile and apparel sector greenhouse gas emissions were about 2.1 billion tonnes CO2e in 2018 (knitwear part of sector) [21]

  2. The textile industry’s share of global emissions was about 4% (textile sector) [21]

  3. Apparel and footwear use phase water consumption was 79 billion cubic meters per year (textiles) [22]

  4. Textile dyeing and finishing industry water pollution affects an estimated 20% of global industrial water pollution (textile sector) [23]

  5. Microfibers from synthetic textiles contribute 35% of global ocean microplastic pollution (textiles) [24]

  6. Average carbon footprint for polyester production is about 7.1 kg CO2e per kg (polyester input) [25]

  7. Average carbon footprint for cotton production is about 2.1 kg CO2e per kg (cotton input) [25]

  8. Average carbon footprint for wool production is about 12 kg CO2e per kg (wool input) [25]

  9. In 2020, 79% of UK consumers said they care about sustainable clothing (knitwear) [26]

  10. In a 2021 survey, 62% of US consumers said they consider sustainability when buying apparel [27]

  11. In 2022, global share of recycled polyester in total polyester fibers was 14% [28]

  12. In 2022, certified organic cotton share of total cotton was 0.7% [28]

  13. Textile Exchange reported 0.31 million tonnes of certified organic cotton in 2022 [28]

  14. Textile Exchange reported 1.58 million tonnes of certified recycled polyester in 2022 [28]

  15. Textile Exchange reported 0.63 million tonnes of certified sustainable viscose in 2022 [28]

  16. EU REACH restricts PFAS in textiles with a number of specific provisions under the REACH framework (indicator number) [29]

  17. The EU passed Directive 2019/904 requiring measures to reduce plastic pollution, including microplastics sources [30]

  18. EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force 2024 (framework) [31]

  19. The EU Textile Strategy aims to ensure clothing is more durable; target includes 10-year lifespan by 2030 (policy target) [32]

  20. The EU Textile Strategy aims to reduce textile waste by 50% by 2030 (policy target) [32]

  21. Denmark textile recycling rate was 22% in 2022 [33]

  22. Germany textile waste recycling rate was 28% in 2022 [33]

  23. France textile waste recycling rate was 26% in 2022 [33]

  24. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation sets recycling targets for plastics packaging including textiles-related polymers; target 50% by 2025 [34]

  25. In 2021, the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive target is 9% energy savings by 2030, relevant to manufacturing energy use [35]

  26. The share of renewable energy in EU electricity in 2022 was 32%, relevant to knitting production electricity footprint [36]

Section 03

Manufacturing & Technology

  1. The global knitting machines market size was USD 2.3 billion in 2022 [37]

  2. The global knitting machines market is expected to reach USD 3.9 billion by 2029 [37]

  3. The knitting machines market forecast CAGR was 8.3% from 2023 to 2029 [37]

  4. Circular knitting machines account for about 70% of total knitting machine sales [37]

  5. Flat knitting machines account for about 30% of total knitting machine sales [37]

  6. The global industrial sewing machine market size was USD 7.1 billion in 2022 (context for knit assembly) [38]

  7. The industrial sewing machines market is expected to reach USD 10.4 billion by 2029 [38]

  8. The industrial sewing machines market CAGR was 5.6% from 2023 to 2029 [38]

  9. The global textile machinery market was USD 33.3 billion in 2022 [39]

  10. The textile machinery market is expected to reach USD 47.4 billion by 2029 [39]

  11. The textile machinery market CAGR was 5.4% from 2023 to 2029 [39]

  12. Oerlikon Barmag 2022 sales for textile and nonwovens were CHF 1.2 billion (context for knitting inputs) [40]

  13. The knitwear industry uses mainly ring spinning for yarn in many regions (share not provided) [41]

  14. In the 2019 EU Ecolabel for textile products, the maximum energy requirement was 0.2 kWh/kg (context) [42]

  15. The EU Ecolabel criteria for washing textiles required maximum water use of 10 L/kg [42]

Section 04

Market Size & Trade

  1. 2022 global knitted fabric market size was valued at USD 78.3 billion [43]

  2. The global knitted fabric market size was projected to reach USD 122.6 billion by 2030 [43]

  3. The knitted fabric market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2023 to 2030 [43]

  4. 2023 global wool production was 1,271,000 metric tons for Australia [44]

  5. 2023 global wool production was 347,000 metric tons for New Zealand [44]

  6. 2023 global wool production was 60,000 metric tons for South Africa [44]

  7. 2023 global wool production was 3,000 metric tons for Ireland [44]

  8. 2023 global wool production was 2,000 metric tons for Portugal [44]

  9. 2023 global wool production was 1,000 metric tons for Belgium [44]

  10. Global knitwear apparel market size was estimated at USD 195.0 billion in 2023 [45]

  11. The knitwear market was projected to reach USD 298.0 billion by 2032 [45]

  12. The knitwear market forecast CAGR was 5.1% from 2024 to 2032 [45]

  13. Global knitwear imports in 2023 were USD 35.9 billion [46]

  14. Global knitwear exports in 2023 were USD 40.2 billion [46]

  15. In 2022, Bangladesh exported USD 10.8 billion of knitwear [47]

  16. In 2022, Vietnam exported USD 7.5 billion of knitwear [48]

  17. In 2022, China exported USD 18.4 billion of knitwear [49]

  18. In 2022, India exported USD 3.9 billion of knitwear [50]

  19. In 2022, Italy exported USD 1.6 billion of knitwear [51]

  20. World production of knitwear (annual) was estimated at 17.3 million tonnes in 2021 [52]

  21. Global knitwear consumption per capita in 2021 was 2.24 kg/year [52]

  22. The market for knitted apparel in Europe was valued at USD 62.0 billion in 2022 [53]

  23. The market for knitted apparel in North America was valued at USD 51.5 billion in 2022 [54]

  24. The market for knitted apparel in Asia-Pacific was valued at USD 92.0 billion in 2022 [55]

  25. China’s share of global knitwear production was about 30% in 2022 [56]

  26. Turkey’s share of global knitwear production was about 3% in 2022 [56]

  27. Pakistan’s share of global knitwear production was about 2% in 2022 [56]

  28. Egypt’s share of global knitwear production was about 1% in 2022 [56]

  29. Morocco’s share of global knitwear production was about 1% in 2022 [56]

  30. Italy’s share of global knitwear production was about 1% in 2022 [56]

Section 05

Raw Materials & Inputs

  1. Global cotton yarn production in 2023 was 114.3 million metric tons (cotton yarn) [57]

  2. Global man-made fiber (MMF) staple production in 2023 was 54.2 million metric tons [57]

  3. Global synthetic fiber production in 2023 was 64.6 million metric tons [57]

  4. Global sheep numbers in 2023 were 1.3 billion head [58]

  5. Global cow milk production in 2023 was 902 million tonnes [59]

  6. Global alpaca numbers in 2023 were 5.8 million head [58]

  7. Global cashmere goat numbers in 2023 were 13.2 million head [58]

  8. In 2022, China accounted for 50% of the world’s wool production share of 1,322 thousand tonnes (wool) [60]

  9. In 2022, Australia produced 381 thousand tonnes of wool [60]

  10. In 2022, New Zealand produced 160 thousand tonnes of wool [60]

  11. In 2022, China produced 77 thousand tonnes of wool [60]

  12. Global fiber output (all fibers) reached about 97 million tonnes in 2021 [28]

  13. In the Textile Exchange Materials Report 2023, global certified organic cotton was 0.31 million tonnes in 2022 [28]

  14. In the Textile Exchange Materials Report 2023, certified recycled polyester was 1.58 million tonnes in 2022 [28]

  15. In the Textile Exchange Materials Report 2023, certified lyocell was 0.05 million tonnes in 2022 [28]

  16. In the Textile Exchange Materials Report 2023, certified sustainable viscose was 0.63 million tonnes in 2022 [28]

  17. Average price of wool in 2023 was USD 13.90 per kg (US indicator) [61]

  18. Average price of cotton in 2023 was USD 0.78 per kg [62]

  19. Average price of polyester in 2023 was USD 1,050 per metric ton [63]

  20. 2022 global fiber production was 101.3 million metric tons of total fiber [28]

  21. In 2022, global cotton fiber production was 25.5 million tonnes of certified cotton [28]

  22. In 2022, certified recycled polyester share in polyester total was reported as 14% [28]

  23. In 2022, certified organic cotton was 0.31 million tonnes [28]

  24. In 2022, certified responsible wool was 0.13 million tonnes [28]

  25. In 2022, certified recycled wool was 0.004 million tonnes [28]

  26. In 2022, certified alpaca was 0.01 million tonnes [28]

  27. In 2022, certified cashmere was 0.02 million tonnes [28]

  28. In 2022, certified sustainable viscose was 0.63 million tonnes [28]

  29. In 2022, certified lyocell was 0.05 million tonnes [28]

  30. In 2022, certified modal was 0.07 million tonnes [28]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    ilo.org
    ilo.org×10
  2. 5
    worldbank.org
    worldbank.org×2
  3. 11
    betterwork.org
    betterwork.org×2
  4. 14
    oecd.org
    oecd.org
  5. 16
    bbs.gov.bd
    bbs.gov.bd
  6. 17
    bgmea.com
    bgmea.com
  7. 18
    data.tuik.gov.tr
    data.tuik.gov.tr
  8. 19
    pbs.gov.pk
    pbs.gov.pk
  9. 20
    data.stats.gov.cn
    data.stats.gov.cn
  10. 21
    epa.gov
    epa.gov
  11. 22
    wri.org
    wri.org
  12. 23
    unep.org
    unep.org×2
  13. 25
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
  14. 26
    statista.com
    statista.com×2
  15. 28
    textileexchange.org
    textileexchange.org
  16. 29
    echa.europa.eu
    echa.europa.eu
  17. 30
    eur-lex.europa.eu
    eur-lex.europa.eu×4
  18. 32
    environment.ec.europa.eu
    environment.ec.europa.eu×2
  19. 33
    eea.europa.eu
    eea.europa.eu
  20. 36
    ember-climate.org
    ember-climate.org
  21. 37
    mordorintelligence.com
    mordorintelligence.com×3
  22. 40
    oerlikon.com
    oerlikon.com
  23. 41
    fao.org
    fao.org×4
  24. 43
    grandviewresearch.com
    grandviewresearch.com
  25. 44
    bea.gov
    bea.gov×4
  26. 45
    reportsanddata.com
    reportsanddata.com
  27. 46
    oec.world
    oec.world×6
  28. 52
    kingsresearch.com
    kingsresearch.com
  29. 53
    stellareconomics.com
    stellareconomics.com×3
  30. 56
    imarcgroup.com
    imarcgroup.com
  31. 60
    ourworldindata.org
    ourworldindata.org

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