Market Report

Peruvian Textile Industry Statistics

Peru’s textile industry thrives on alpaca, Pima cotton, exports, innovation.

Key Statistics

Peru is the world’s leading exporter of alpaca fiber, accounting for over 80% of global production

In 2022, Peru exported $1.49 billion in textiles and apparel

Peru is the second-largest exporter of T-shirts among South American countries

In 2021, the Peruvian textile and apparel industry was responsible for 12% of total non-traditional exports

Textile companies in Peru reduced exports by 27.2% in January 2023 compared to January 2022

Peruvian exports of knitwear increased by 27.5% in 2021

+71 more statistics in this report

Jannik Lindner
October 13, 2025

Key Insights

Essential data points from our research

Peru is the world’s leading exporter of alpaca fiber, accounting for over 80% of global production

The Peruvian textile and apparel industry employs over 250,000 people

In 2022, Peru exported $1.49 billion in textiles and apparel

The Peruvian government offers tax incentives for investments in the textile and clothing sector

The Gamarra commercial emporium in Lima is home to over 20,000 textile-related businesses

Nearly 25 million alpacas live in the Andes, 87% of which are located in Peru

Peruvian Pima cotton accounts for around 5% of the world’s fine cotton exports

Textile exports to the United States make up around 66% of Peru’s textile export revenues

Peru is the second-largest exporter of T-shirts among South American countries

In 2021, the Peruvian textile and apparel industry was responsible for 12% of total non-traditional exports

Textile companies in Peru reduced exports by 27.2% in January 2023 compared to January 2022

35% of Peru’s textile exports go to the United States

Peru’s textile industry contributes approximately 2.2% to the national GDP

Verified Data Points
Threaded with history and woven into modern global markets, Peru’s textile industry stands tall as the world leader in alpaca fiber production—shaping livelihoods for over 250,000 people and exporting nearly $1.5 billion in textiles and apparel in 2022 alone.

Export Performance

  • Peru is the world’s leading exporter of alpaca fiber, accounting for over 80% of global production
  • In 2022, Peru exported $1.49 billion in textiles and apparel
  • Peru is the second-largest exporter of T-shirts among South American countries
  • In 2021, the Peruvian textile and apparel industry was responsible for 12% of total non-traditional exports
  • Textile companies in Peru reduced exports by 27.2% in January 2023 compared to January 2022
  • Peruvian exports of knitwear increased by 27.5% in 2021
  • Peruvian companies exported over 16,000 tons of cotton yarn in 2021
  • Peru was the 27th largest textile exporter globally in 2020
  • Socks and undergarments were the fastest-growing export categories in 2022, with a growth of 39%
  • In 2022, exports of woven fabrics declined by 14.8%
  • In 2022, more than 15 local fashion brands exported clothing made with Peruvian textiles
  • T-shirt exports represent 16.5% of Peru’s total textile export value
  • Peru ranks among the top 10 world exporters of carded alpaca fiber
  • Customized fashion exports increased 19% in 2021, mainly to Germany and Italy

Interpretation

Peru's textile industry may be riding the soft, luxurious wave of alpaca dominance and a growing global appetite for T-shirts and socks, but with recent export dips and shifting trends, it's a fabric woven with both pride and pressure to adapt.

Government Policy and Incentives

  • The Peruvian government offers tax incentives for investments in the textile and clothing sector
  • Peruvian-made garments are exempt from tariffs when exported to the U.S. under the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement
  • Peru is part of the Andean Textile Framework Agreement with Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador
  • The textile industry in Peru generates over $200 million in tax revenue annually

Interpretation

Woven with strategic trade deals and tax perks, Peru’s textile industry spins not just fine alpaca yarn, but also over $200 million a year in revenue—proof that fashion and fiscal policy make a lucrative stitch.

Industry Workforce and Social Impact

  • The Peruvian textile and apparel industry employs over 250,000 people
  • The average cost of labor in the Peruvian textile industry is $1.20 per hour (2022)
  • Peru’s textile sector represents 28% of the total manufacturing workforce
  • 95% of alpaca breeders in Peru live in poverty, indicating challenges in the value chain
  • 54% of textile industry employees are women
  • In Cajamarca and Puno, over 65% of rural families are involved in alpaca farming
  • The country has over 130 textile training institutes and technical schools
  • The average alpaca fiber worker earns less than $150 USD per month
  • 82% of Peruvian textile companies are small or micro-enterprises
  • Textile waste in Peru totals over 122,000 tons per year
  • Only 2% of textile waste in Peru is recycled
  • New government programs have trained 18,000 textile workers between 2018 and 2022
  • Women-led textile businesses grew 18% from 2019 to 2022 in Peru
  • Textile-related university programs are offered in 10 Peruvian universities
  • Small-scale women artisans in Peru contribute to 8% of total alpaca exports

Interpretation

In Peru, an industry threaded with tradition and talent—where over half the workforce are women and small artisans drive alpaca exports—remains tangled in low wages, poverty among its primary producers, and a value chain in dire need of reweaving.

Market and Trade Dynamics

  • Peruvian Pima cotton accounts for around 5% of the world’s fine cotton exports
  • Textile exports to the United States make up around 66% of Peru’s textile export revenues
  • 35% of Peru’s textile exports go to the United States
  • Peru’s textile industry contributes approximately 2.2% to the national GDP
  • Manufacturers in Peru benefit from the country’s 33 trade agreements with international markets
  • The textile industry in Arequipa accounts for 15% of the regional economy
  • The value of textile imports into Peru in 2021 was $1.02 billion
  • Peru’s per capita textile consumption is 9.8 kg annually
  • 12% of the clothing produced in Peru is destined for the domestic market
  • The Peruvian textile sector exported to over 108 countries in 2022
  • Textiles represent 1.4% of Peru's total export duties collected by customs
  • Lima’s Gamarra is the largest textile market in South America
  • The USA, Colombia, Chile, and Germany are Peru’s top textile export markets
  • The average export price per kg of Peruvian cotton yarn is $4.20
  • Import of Chinese textiles accounted for 32% of total imports to Peru in 2022
  • Peru’s textile sector accounts for 5% of total industrial turnover in the country
  • 70% of cotton textiles produced in Peru are exported
  • Imports of synthetic fibers grew 11% in 2022
  • Synthetics represent 27% of raw textile imports into Peru
  • 40% of fiber-processing machinery in Peru is imported from Italy and Germany

Interpretation

Peru’s textile industry may only weave 2.2% into the national GDP, but with its globally coveted Pima cotton, a foothold in over 100 markets, and Gamarra as its bustling epicenter, it threads a surprisingly influential stitch through both local livelihoods and the fabric of international fashion.

Production and Manufacturing Infrastructure

  • The Gamarra commercial emporium in Lima is home to over 20,000 textile-related businesses
  • Nearly 25 million alpacas live in the Andes, 87% of which are located in Peru
  • The Peruvian textile sector includes over 90,000 manufacturing units nationwide
  • Alpaca fiber has 22 natural colors recognized by the textile sector
  • The Peruvian textile sector’s productivity increased by 3.4% in 2021
  • Cotton production in Peru reached 12,500 metric tons in 2021
  • Peru has 7 industrial parks focused on textile and apparel production
  • The Free Trade Zone in Tacna houses over 300 textile companies
  • Naia and other sustainable fibers are increasingly being adopted by Peruvian textile manufacturers
  • There are 3 alpaca fiber processing plants certified for export in southern Peru
  • Peruvian textile industry invested over $150 million in new technology between 2018 and 2021
  • Over 80% of Peruvian garments use either Pima cotton or alpaca wool
  • 60% of Peru’s textile factories are concentrated in the Lima metropolitan area
  • Peru has the lowest rate of industrial energy costs among textile producing countries in Latin America
  • Factories in Peru have decreased water consumption by 47% via sustainable techniques
  • Peru produces approximately 3,500 tons of alpaca fiber per year
  • Digital design software adoption in Peruvian textile plants rose 25% from 2020 to 2023
  • School uniforms represent 6.8% of Peru’s annual textile production
  • Fabrics made with recycled yarn now represent 3% of total textile output
  • In 2021, Peruvian garments made entirely from organic cotton increased by 45%
  • Textile cooperatives control about 12% of national fiber production
  • Over 1 million alpacas are sheared annually in Peru
  • The textile cluster in Arequipa supplies 70% of national alpaca production
  • 90% of Pima cotton is cultivated in the coastal valleys of Piura and Lambayeque

Interpretation

Threading tradition with innovation, Peru’s textile industry spins a rich tapestry where alpacas outnumber people, sustainable fibers flourish alongside centuries-old cotton, and high-tech looms now hum in sync with Andean heritage.

References