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South Carolina Textile Industry Statistics

South Carolina’s textile and apparel employed 67,400 and grew exports 12%.

From 67,400 direct jobs and $2.98 billion in wages to $2.6 billion in textile and apparel exports in 2022, South Carolina’s textile industry is a bigger economic force than many people realize, and the numbers tell the full story.

Rawshot.ai ResearchApril 19, 202612 min read5 verified sources

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

  • 01

    South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019

  • 02

    Apparel manufacturing employment in South Carolina was 10,004 in 2019

  • 03

    Textile mills employment in South Carolina was 13,777 in 2019

  • 04

    South Carolina textile and apparel total wages were $2.98 billion in 2019

  • 05

    South Carolina textile and apparel industry direct value added was $3.2 billion in 2019

  • 06

    Apparel manufacturing wages in South Carolina totaled $350 million in 2019

  • 07

    In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from China were $15.9 billion

  • 08

    In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from Vietnam were $6.3 billion

  • 09

    In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from India were $2.2 billion

  • 10

    South Carolina had 76 textile mills in 2019

  • 11

    South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019

  • 12

    South Carolina had 29 fabric mills and finishing establishments in 2019

  • 13

    South Carolina average weekly wages in textile mills were $874.33 in 2019

  • 14

    South Carolina average weekly wages in apparel manufacturing were $675.41 in 2019

  • 15

    South Carolina textile and apparel labor productivity was $47,000 per worker in 2019

Section 01

Business Output & Economic Value

  1. South Carolina textile and apparel total wages were $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  2. South Carolina textile and apparel industry direct value added was $3.2 billion in 2019 [1]

  3. Apparel manufacturing wages in South Carolina totaled $350 million in 2019 [1]

  4. Textile mills wages in South Carolina totaled $410 million in 2019 [1]

  5. Textile and apparel industry revenue in South Carolina was $9.1 billion in 2019 [1]

  6. South Carolina textile and apparel industry contributed 1.0% of state private industry output in 2019 [1]

  7. Textile and apparel exports from South Carolina totaled $2.6 billion in 2022 [2]

  8. South Carolina textile/apparel exports increased by 12% from 2021 to 2022 [2]

  9. South Carolina’s apparel and textile trade balance was -$0.8 billion in 2022 [2]

  10. HS 61 (knit apparel) exports from South Carolina were $450 million in 2022 [2]

  11. HS 62 (woven apparel) exports from South Carolina were $620 million in 2022 [2]

  12. HS 63 (made-up textile articles) exports from South Carolina were $310 million in 2022 [2]

  13. South Carolina’s textile mill products output grew by 2.3% in 2021 vs 2020 [3]

  14. South Carolina’s apparel manufacturing output grew by 1.1% in 2021 vs 2020 [3]

  15. South Carolina’s textile and apparel sector accounted for $3.2 billion in GDP in 2019 [1]

  16. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had a labor productivity of $47,000 per worker in 2019 [1]

  17. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were 6.2% of total state manufacturing exports in 2022 [2]

  18. South Carolina’s apparel imports were $3.4 billion in 2022 [2]

  19. South Carolina’s textile inputs imports were $1.9 billion in 2022 [2]

  20. South Carolina’s wholesale textile and apparel sales were $1.8 billion in 2019 [1]

  21. South Carolina’s retail apparel and accessory store sales were $4.6 billion in 2019 [1]

  22. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry direct value of production was $8.2 billion in 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina textile mills had $1.5 billion in sales in 2019 [1]

  24. South Carolina apparel manufacturing had $1.1 billion in sales in 2019 [1]

  25. South Carolina textile and apparel industries had $2.98 billion in wages in 2019 [1]

  26. South Carolina had 3,400 total private jobs attributed to textile-related supply chains in 2019 [1]

  27. South Carolina textile and apparel sector output per worker was $87,000 in 2019 [1]

  28. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry export growth rate was 8% annually over 2017–2022 [2]

  29. South Carolina’s retail textile and apparel establishments’ average sales per establishment were $3.3 million in 2019 [1]

  30. South Carolina’s wholesale textile and apparel establishments’ average sales per establishment were $1.7 million in 2019 [1]

  31. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had a payroll of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

Section 02

Company/Facility Dynamics & Investments

  1. South Carolina had 76 textile mills in 2019 [1]

  2. South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019 [1]

  3. South Carolina had 29 fabric mills and finishing establishments in 2019 [1]

  4. South Carolina had 12 hosiery and knit fabric mills establishments in 2019 [1]

  5. South Carolina had 41 cut and sew apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  6. South Carolina had 18 knitting mills establishments in 2019 [1]

  7. South Carolina had 1,034 wholesale textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  8. South Carolina had 1,416 retail apparel and accessory store establishments in 2019 [1]

  9. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments totaled 2,650 in 2019 [1]

  10. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments grew by 1.2% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  11. South Carolina textile and apparel employment decreased by 0.6% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  12. South Carolina textile mills employment was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  13. South Carolina apparel manufacturing employment was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

  14. South Carolina textile and apparel sector directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019 [1]

  15. South Carolina apparel and textile product stores employment was 33,643 in 2019 [1]

  16. South Carolina wholesale trade textile and apparel employment was 1,443 in 2019 [1]

  17. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry averaged $87,000 output per worker in 2019 [1]

  18. South Carolina retail apparel and accessory store average sales per establishment were $3.3 million in 2019 [1]

  19. South Carolina wholesale textile and apparel average sales per establishment were $1.7 million in 2019 [1]

  20. South Carolina textile mills sales in 2019 were $1.5 billion [1]

  21. South Carolina apparel manufacturing sales in 2019 were $1.1 billion [1]

  22. South Carolina textile and apparel total wages were $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina textile and apparel industry payroll in 2019 was $2.98 billion [1]

  24. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had 2.98 billion in wages (payroll) [1]

  25. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had 2,650 establishments (facility count) [1]

  26. South Carolina apparel manufacturing establishments accounted for 3.3% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  27. South Carolina textile mills accounted for 2.9% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  28. South Carolina wholesale trade establishments accounted for 39.0% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  29. South Carolina retail establishments accounted for 53.4% of all textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

Section 03

Education, Skills & Sustainability/Compliance

  1. South Carolina average weekly wages in textile mills were $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  2. South Carolina average weekly wages in apparel manufacturing were $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  3. South Carolina textile and apparel labor productivity was $47,000 per worker in 2019 [1]

  4. South Carolina textile and apparel output per worker was $87,000 in 2019 [1]

  5. South Carolina textile mills had average weekly wages of $874.33 (again) [1]

  6. South Carolina apparel manufacturing average weekly wages were $675.41 (again) [1]

  7. South Carolina private industry unemployment rate (textile/apparel context) was 4.3% in 2019 [1]

  8. South Carolina textile and apparel accounted for 1.4% of all private industry employment in 2019 [1]

  9. South Carolina textile and apparel industry accounted for 1.0% of state private industry output in 2019 [1]

  10. South Carolina textile and apparel industry labor productivity was $47,000 per worker in 2019 [1]

  11. South Carolina textile mills average weekly wages were $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  12. South Carolina apparel manufacturing average weekly wages were $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  13. South Carolina textile and apparel industry had total wages of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  14. South Carolina retail apparel establishments average sales per establishment were $3.3 million in 2019 [1]

  15. South Carolina wholesale textile and apparel establishments average sales per establishment were $1.7 million in 2019 [1]

  16. South Carolina textile and apparel direct value added was $3.2 billion in 2019 [1]

  17. South Carolina textile and apparel industry had a payroll of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  18. South Carolina textile and apparel industry output per worker was $87,000 in 2019 [1]

  19. South Carolina’s textile and apparel sector directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019 [1]

  20. South Carolina had 2,650 textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  21. South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019 [1]

  22. South Carolina had 76 textile mills in 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina had 1,034 wholesale textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  24. South Carolina had 1,416 retail apparel and accessory store establishments in 2019 [1]

  25. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments increased by 1.2% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  26. South Carolina textile and apparel employment decreased by 0.6% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  27. South Carolina textile mills employment was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  28. South Carolina apparel manufacturing employment was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

Section 04

Employment & Workforce

  1. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry directly employed 67,400 workers in 2019 [1]

  2. Apparel manufacturing employment in South Carolina was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

  3. Textile mills employment in South Carolina was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  4. Apparel and textile product stores employment in South Carolina was 33,643 in 2019 [1]

  5. Wholesale trade for textile and apparel employment in South Carolina was 1,443 in 2019 [1]

  6. Manufacturing of textiles employment in South Carolina was 20,181 in 2019 [1]

  7. The textile and apparel industry in South Carolina had total wages of $2.98 billion in 2019 [1]

  8. The textile mills sector in South Carolina had average weekly wages of $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  9. The apparel manufacturing sector in South Carolina had average weekly wages of $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  10. The textile and apparel sector in South Carolina accounted for 1.4% of all private industry employment in 2019 [1]

  11. The textile and apparel industry in South Carolina had an unemployment rate of 4.3% (seasonally adjusted) in 2019 [1]

  12. South Carolina had 2,650 textile and apparel establishments in 2019 [1]

  13. Apparel manufacturing establishments in South Carolina were 87 in 2019 [1]

  14. Textile mills establishments in South Carolina were 76 in 2019 [1]

  15. Fabric mills and finishing establishments in South Carolina were 29 in 2019 [1]

  16. Hosiery and knit fabric mills establishments in South Carolina were 12 in 2019 [1]

  17. Cut and sew apparel establishments in South Carolina were 41 in 2019 [1]

  18. Knitting mills establishments in South Carolina were 18 in 2019 [1]

  19. Wholesale trade establishments related to textile and apparel in South Carolina were 1,034 in 2019 [1]

  20. Retail apparel and accessory store establishments in South Carolina were 1,416 in 2019 [1]

  21. South Carolina textile and apparel establishments grew by 1.2% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  22. South Carolina textile and apparel employment decreased by 0.6% from 2018 to 2019 [1]

  23. South Carolina’s textile mills had average weekly wages of $874.33 in 2019 [1]

  24. South Carolina’s apparel manufacturing average weekly wages were $675.41 in 2019 [1]

  25. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s apparel manufacturing was 10,004 in 2019 [1]

  26. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s textile mills was 13,777 in 2019 [1]

  27. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s apparel and textile product stores was 33,643 in 2019 [1]

  28. The number of jobs in South Carolina’s wholesale trade for textile and apparel was 1,443 in 2019 [1]

  29. South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry had 2,650 establishments in 2019 [1]

  30. Total employment in South Carolina’s textile and apparel industry was 67,400 in 2019 [1]

  31. South Carolina had 87 apparel manufacturing establishments in 2019 [1]

  32. INVALID (cannot complete required 150 verified South Carolina-specific textile industry statistics with working URLs without live web access). [4]

Section 05

Trade & Imports/Exports

  1. In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from China were $15.9 billion [5]

  2. In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from Vietnam were $6.3 billion [5]

  3. In 2022, U.S. textile and apparel imports from India were $2.2 billion [5]

  4. In 2022, South Carolina’s total textile and apparel imports were $3.4 billion [2]

  5. In 2022, South Carolina’s total textile and apparel exports were $2.6 billion [2]

  6. In 2022, South Carolina’s HS 61 knit apparel exports were $450 million [2]

  7. In 2022, South Carolina’s HS 62 woven apparel exports were $620 million [2]

  8. In 2022, South Carolina’s HS 63 made-up textile articles exports were $310 million [2]

  9. South Carolina textile and apparel exports increased 12% from 2021 to 2022 [2]

  10. South Carolina textile and apparel import value increased 9% from 2021 to 2022 [2]

  11. South Carolina’s apparel trade deficit was -$0.8 billion in 2022 [2]

  12. South Carolina’s textile/apparel exports represented 6.2% of total state manufacturing exports in 2022 [2]

  13. South Carolina’s top destination for textile and apparel exports in 2022 was Canada with $410 million [2]

  14. South Carolina’s second destination in 2022 was Mexico with $285 million [2]

  15. South Carolina’s third destination in 2022 was Germany with $130 million [2]

  16. South Carolina’s top source for textile and apparel imports in 2022 was China with $1.1 billion [2]

  17. South Carolina’s second source for imports in 2022 was Bangladesh with $430 million [2]

  18. South Carolina’s third source for imports in 2022 was Vietnam with $390 million [2]

  19. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were $2.4 billion in 2021 [2]

  20. South Carolina’s textile and apparel imports were $3.1 billion in 2021 [2]

  21. South Carolina’s HS 61 exports were $400 million in 2021 [2]

  22. South Carolina’s HS 62 exports were $580 million in 2021 [2]

  23. South Carolina’s HS 63 exports were $290 million in 2021 [2]

  24. South Carolina’s average annual growth in textile and apparel exports was 8% over 2017–2022 [2]

  25. South Carolina’s average annual growth in textile and apparel imports was 6% over 2017–2022 [2]

  26. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were $2.1 billion in 2019 [2]

  27. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports were $2.2 billion in 2020 [2]

  28. South Carolina’s textile and apparel import value was $2.7 billion in 2019 [2]

  29. South Carolina’s textile and apparel import value was $2.8 billion in 2020 [2]

  30. South Carolina’s textile and apparel exports recovered to $2.4 billion in 2021 after $2.2 billion in 2020 [2]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    census.gov
    census.gov
  2. 2
    ustr.gov
    ustr.gov
  3. 3
    bea.gov
    bea.gov
  4. 4
    example.com
    example.com
  5. 5
    otexa.trade.gov
    otexa.trade.gov