Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
The global knitted fabric market size was valued at USD 28.02 billion in 2022
The global hand knitting yarn market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2021 to 2028
The warp knit segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate of 5.2% in the fabric market
The global knitting machinery market is expected to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2030
Circular knitting machines hold the largest market share in the industrial sector due to high production speeds
Digital knitting solutions and 3D knitting technology are reducing waste in production by up to 30%
77% of knitters spend money on their craft at least once a month
88% of knitters say that knitting reduces their stress levels
61% of knitters prefer to buy yarn in physical stores rather than online to feel the texture
China is the world's largest exporter of knitted fabrics accounting for over 50% of global trade
Bangladesh is the second-largest exporter of ready-made knitwear garments in the world
Vietnam's textile and garment export turnover, including knitwear, reached roughly $44 billion in 2022
Polyester dominates the knitted fabric market with a revenue share of over 65%
Cotton constitutes the second largest segment in the knitting yarn market after synthetic fibers
The demand for organic wool in knitting is rising with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification becoming a key driver
Consumer & Health
- 77% of knitters spend money on their craft at least once a month
- 88% of knitters say that knitting reduces their stress levels
- 61% of knitters prefer to buy yarn in physical stores rather than online to feel the texture
- Over 45 million people in the United States know how to knit or crochet
- 53% of knitters knit daily, highlighting the habit-forming nature of the craft
- 93% of respondents in a knit study reported a feeling of calmness and happiness while knitting
- 56% of knitters learn new techniques via YouTube tutorials
- Knitting has been shown to lower heart rate by an average of 11 beats per minute
- 18-34 year olds made up 34% of the knitting and crochet market during the pandemic boom
- Participation in "Knitting Circles" or social knitting groups rose by 20% post-2020
- Studies show knitting improves cognitive function in elderly patients and may delay dementia
- 86% of knitters state they knit to create unique personalized gifts
- Knitting is used as a therapy form for chronic pain management in 65% of surveyed pain clinics
- Post-pandemic, 22% of new knitters cited "digital detox" as their primary motivation
- 40% of knitters also participate in Crochet showing high crossover between the crafts
- Pinterest reported a 150% increase in searches for "knitting patterns" in 2021
- Men account for approximately 10% of the hand knitting market a number that is slowly rising
- 70% of knitters claim the hobby helps them deal with chronic illness
- Ravelry.com a social network for knitters has over 9 million registered users
- 65% of knitters watch TV while knitting making it a dual-screen leisure activity
Interpretation
Together, these numbers show knitting has quietly become the Swiss Army knife of modern wellbeing and commerce: a habit-forming craft practiced daily by millions that lowers heart rate and stress, supports pain management and cognitive health, fuels monthly spending and in-person yarn shopping while thriving on YouTube tutorials and platforms like Ravelry, sparked a pandemic-era influx of younger makers, nudged more men into the craft, and lives comfortably as both a social ritual and a favored TV-time or digital-detox activity.
Global Market Overview
- The global knitted fabric market size was valued at USD 28.02 billion in 2022
- The global hand knitting yarn market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2021 to 2028
- The warp knit segment is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate of 5.2% in the fabric market
- The global hosiery market, a subset of knitting, was valued at USD 33.7 billion in 2018
- The global technical textile market which includes technical knits is projected to reach USD 222.4 billion by 2027
- The global sportswear knitting market is driven by a CAGR of 6.8% due to the athleisure trend
- The knitted fabric market in Asia Pacific held the largest revenue share of over 60% in 2022
- The infant knitwear market is projected to reach USD 45 billion by 2027
- The knitted footwear upper market (like Flyknit) has grown to a multi-billion dollar segment for athletic brands
- The global sweater market size is estimated to be worth USD 104.8 billion by 2025
- The automotive textile market which relies heavily on warp knitting is valued at USD 29 billion
- The medical textile knitting market (compressive garments) grows at a steady 5% CAGR
- The global crochet and knitting supplies market revenue is forecast to cross USD 700 million by 2033
- The seamless clothing market size is expected to reach USD 6.5 billion by 2025
- The global socks market is anticipated to reach USD 65.5 billion by 2030
- The global knitted home textiles market (blankets/throws) is growing at a CAGR of 4.5%
- The swimwear market largely dependent on warp knitting is valued at over USD 20 billion globally
- The global market for knitted geotextiles used in construction is valued at USD 2.5 billion
- The global leggings market which relies on circular knitting is expected to reach USD 57 billion by 2031
- The DIY and craft market globally including knitting is valued at USD 45 billion
Interpretation
If you still think knitting is just a hobby, its stitch by stitch expansion from infant booties and DIY yarn to Flyknit sneakers, seamless sportswear and technical geotextiles now adds up to a multi hundred billion dollar global industry led by Asia Pacific and powered by warp and circular knitting innovations, athleisure demand and steady mid single digit growth across most segments.
Materials & Sustainability
- Polyester dominates the knitted fabric market with a revenue share of over 65%
- Cotton constitutes the second largest segment in the knitting yarn market after synthetic fibers
- The demand for organic wool in knitting is rising with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification becoming a key driver
- Recycled polyester usage in knitted sportswear is expected to double by 2025
- Merino wool accounts for approximately 50%, by value, of the yarn sold for hand knitting
- Bamboo production for knitted fabrics has increased due to its antibacterial properties
- The global market for viscose yarn used in knitting is growing at 4% annually
- Acrylic yarn retains about 30% of the hand-knitting hobbyist market due to affordability
- Hemp fiber usage in knitting is growing at 15% year over year due to sustainability trends
- Cashmere yarn makes up less than 1% of the total knitting market by volume but commands the highest price point
- Alpaca fiber production for knitting is centered in Peru totaling 80% of global supply
- Lyocell and Modal fibers are increasing in knitwear composition by 8% annually
- Smart yarns with conductive properties for wearable tech are a niche but doubling in market size every 3 years
- Silk yarn constitutes a premium 2% of the knitting yarn market volume
- Solution-dyed yarns which save water are becoming a standard in commercial knitting
- Angora wool production has dropped significantly due to animal welfare concerns shifting the market to synthetic faux-fur yarns
- Mohair demand fluctuates heavily with fashion trends currently seeing a resurgence in luxury knitwear
- Biodegradable synthetic yarns (like Ciclo) are entering the knitting supply chain to combat microplastic pollution
- Qiviut (muskox wool) is one of the most expensive knitting fibers costing over $100 per ounce
Interpretation
Polyester may be knitting the market together with more than 65 percent of revenue, yet a tug of fibers is underway as cost conscious staples like acrylic and cotton coexist with high value naturals such as merino, cashmere and qiviut, while sustainability and innovation, manifest in recycled polyester, hemp, bamboo, GOTS certified organic wool, lyocell, modal, solution dyed and biodegradable synthetic yarns together with emerging smart conductive yarns, are rapidly rewriting supply chains and consumer priorities.
Regional Trade & Production
- China is the world's largest exporter of knitted fabrics accounting for over 50% of global trade
- Bangladesh is the second-largest exporter of ready-made knitwear garments in the world
- Vietnam's textile and garment export turnover, including knitwear, reached roughly $44 billion in 2022
- India produces approximately 1445 million kg of knitted garments annually
- The European Union imports nearly 40% of the world's knitwear production
- Turkey is the 4th largest supplier of knitted fabrics to the global market
- Italy remains the leader in the production of high-luxury knitted goods in Europe
- Germany exports approximately USD 3 billion worth of knitted fabrics annually
- The US imports over 97% of the apparel sold in the country much of which is knitwear
- Cambodia's garment sector exports consist of 60% knitted goods
- Honduras is a key supplier of knitted cotton shirts to the United States market
- Portugal is the leading European manufacturer of jersey knitted fabrics
- Sri Lanka's apparel export revenue which is heavily knit-focused reached $5.4 billion in 2021
- Indonesia exports over $4 billion in knitted apparel primarily to the US and Japan
- Mexico is the largest supplier of knitted goods to the USA within the Americas due to USMCA
- Pakistan's textile exports are 40% comprised of knitwear products
- Lesotho has emerged as a major exporter of knitted garments to the US under AGOA
- South Korea's textile industry focuses on high-tech knitted fabrics for activewear exports
- Japan is the primary destination for high-end Chinese knitted exports
- Thailand's textile industry exports roughly $7 billion annually with a strong focus on knitted sportswear
Interpretation
Taken together, these figures paint a geopolitically knit industry in which China supplies more than half of the world’s knitted fabrics while the European Union buys nearly 40 percent and the United States imports over 97 percent of its apparel, as mass exporters like Bangladesh, Vietnam with about $44 billion in textile and garment exports, India producing roughly 1,445 million kilograms of knitted garments, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia operate alongside specialists such as Italy in luxury knits, Portugal in jersey, Turkey as the fourth largest supplier, Germany exporting about $3 billion of knitted fabrics, South Korea in high tech activewear textiles, Thailand focusing on roughly $7 billion of sportswear, and trade partners from Mexico under USMCA to Lesotho under AGOA each stitch their own niche into the global market.
Technology & Machinery
- The global knitting machinery market is expected to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2030
- Circular knitting machines hold the largest market share in the industrial sector due to high production speeds
- Digital knitting solutions and 3D knitting technology are reducing waste in production by up to 30%
- Wholegarment knitting machines can produce a complete garment in roughly 30 to 40 minutes
- Computerized flat knitting machines account for a significant share of the high-end sweater market
- Industry 4.0 integration in knitting mills enables real-time monitoring of machine efficiency
- The market for seamless knitting machines is expanding for the production of intimate apparel and sportswear
- Artificial Intelligence is now being used to detect defects in knitted fabrics with 95% accuracy
- Warp knitting machines can achieve speeds of up to 4,000 courses per minute
- Electronic needle selection systems in modern knitting machines allow for infinite pattern possibilities
- CAD/CAM systems for knitting reduce prototype development time by approximately 60%
- Double jersey knitting machines offer higher fabric stability compared to single jersey machines
- IoT-enabled knitting machines can predict maintenance needs before breakdowns occur
- V-bed flat knitting machines are the standard for producing complex collars and cuffs
- The gauge (needles per inch) of industrial knitting machines has increased to allow for ultra-fine fabrics
- Plating technology in knitting allows for two different yarns to be knitted simultaneously for functional fabrics
- 3D modeling software for knitwear can reduce sampling waste by up to 80%
- Raschel knitting machines are predominantly used for producing lace and netting fabrics
- Piezoelectric needle selectors increase the speed of jacquard knitting by 20%
- Intarsia knitting machines allow for multicolor designs without floating yarns on the back
Interpretation
By 2030 the $1.8 billion knitting machinery market will have proved that knitting has moved from craft to cutting edge, as circular, wholegarment, seamless and V bed machines join computerized flat, warp and Raschel systems while CAD/CAM, 3D modeling, digital knitting, AI, IoT and electronic needle selection slash waste, speed sampling and pattern complexity, boost production rates and fabric fineness, and enable predictive maintenance with 95 percent defect detection.
References
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