Thailand Textile Industry Statistics

Thailand’s textile and apparel sector contributes about 5% to Thailand’s manufacturing employment [1]

The textile and apparel sector employs about 1.7 million people in Thailand [1]

Women represent a majority workforce in Thailand’s textile and apparel sector (about 70%) [1]

Thailand’s garment sector is the main employer within textiles and apparel [2]

The Thai textile and apparel sector is one of the largest private sector employers in Thailand with about 1.6–1.7 million workers [2]

Thailand has around 3,000 textile and garment factories [2]

In the UNIDO report, Thailand’s garment industry accounts for the majority of employment (as cited) [3]

UNIDO indicates the Thai textile and apparel sector has hundreds of thousands of small and medium enterprises (as cited) [3]

Thailand’s labor productivity improvements are discussed as increasing output per worker (as cited) [3]

The UNIDO report estimates wages constitute a portion of production costs, and labor cost pressure is referenced (as cited) [3]

Thailand’s minimum wage is THB 328 per day in 2024 (labor cost baseline) [4]

Thailand’s minimum wage increased to THB 370 per day in 2025 in some provinces (as per ILO doc) [4]

Thailand’s minimum wage was THB 336 per day in 2024 (some areas) per ILO minimum wage document [4]

Thailand’s minimum wage varies by province; rates range around THB 328–370 per day (as described) [4]

The ILO report lists compliance and working conditions issues in Thai garment factories (quantitative findings) [2]

ILO notes substantial overtime hours in the garment supply chain (as cited) [2]

ILO identifies that social compliance systems are uneven across factories (as cited) [2]

ILO indicates training and skills development participation is limited for some workers (as cited) [2]

Thailand’s textile and apparel sector energy use is significant and linked to manufacturing outputs (energy intensity reported) [5]

Thai textile industry wastewater volumes are substantial; industry report notes large volumes requiring treatment [5]

The ADB report notes that dyeing and finishing are the major water and pollutant contributors [5]

The ADB report states that textile dyeing can contribute up to 80% of industrial water pollution (as described) [5]

Thailand textile industry is a high water-consuming sector; process water use per ton of fabric is reported [5]

The report estimates water use in dyeing/finishing can be several hundred cubic meters per ton of fabric (as cited) [5]

The textile finishing process is responsible for a large share of BOD/ COD in effluent (as described) [5]

The textile industry can produce significant solid waste including fibers and sludge (quantified in report) [5]

The report mentions that industrial wastewater treatment compliance is a challenge; number of factories meeting standards is discussed [5]

Thailand adopted the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under Paris Agreement with an emissions target (industry contributes) [6]

Thailand’s NDC target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20–25% by 2030 compared to business as usual [6]

Thailand’s NDC includes an adaptation component with actions in sectors including industry [6]

Thailand’s EPR framework for packaging was established with cost sharing (not textile-specific) (as referenced in sustainability) [7]

The OECD describes EPR as moving waste costs to producers (general stat) [7]

Thailand has a target to increase electricity generation from renewables to 30% by 2036 (supports decarbonization) [8]

Thailand’s Renewable Energy Target is 30% by 2036 [8]

Thailand textile sector faces regulations aligning with EU and US due diligence (as cited) [9]

Thailand textile sector’s key sustainability focus areas include chemicals management and wastewater treatment (as cited) [9]

Thailand’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states have a regional action plan on sustainable textiles (as cited) [10]

The ASEAN action plan includes targets for chemical and wastewater management (measures set) [10]

Thailand’s textile and apparel sector is a major contributor to industrial pollution and thus often subject to environmental permitting (as cited) [5]

Thailand’s Ministry of Industry reports that industrial estates host clustered textile activity (as cited) [11]

Thailand’s Board of Investment offers incentives for textile and apparel manufacturing (as described) [12]

BOI incentive measures include corporate income tax exemptions for manufacturing (as described) [12]

BOI provides tax incentives for investment in textiles and apparel under specific schemes (as described) [12]

Thailand’s SMART Factory/Industry 4.0 programs support advanced manufacturing including textiles (as described) [13]

Thailand’s Industry 4.0 strategy aims to upgrade manufacturing productivity (as described) [13]

The BOI offers 3–8 year corporate tax holidays depending on location/activities (textile incentives guidance) [12]

BOI also offers import duty exemption for machinery used in promoted textile investments (as described) [12]

Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce provides export promotion measures for textiles and apparel (as described) [14]

Thailand’s MFA/Human Rights due diligence frameworks are referenced by buyers (as cited) [9]

Thailand adopted an environmental regulation requiring factories to obtain environmental permits (as described in law overview) [15]

Thailand’s Industrial Estate Authority promotes utility systems for industrial clusters (as described) [16]

Thailand’s Textile and Garment Institute supports workforce training and technology (as described) [17]

Thailand’s Thai Garment Manufacturers’ Association supports industrial development (as described) [18]

Thailand’s Textile Institute of Thailand (TIT) supports standards and knowledge (as described) [19]

Thailand’s Thai-Belgian textile cluster initiatives are described under innovation programs (as cited) [20]

Thailand’s BOI lists garment manufacturing under promoted activities with incentive eligibility (as described) [21]

Thailand’s BOI lists spinning/weaving/knitting under promoted textile activities (as described) [12]

Thailand’s BOI offers foreign ownership permissions within specific conditions for textile projects (as described) [22]

Thailand has a Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate of 7% (policy baseline affecting production costs) [23]

Thailand corporate income tax standard rate is 20% (policy baseline for firms) [23]

Thailand withholding tax rates on dividends are 10% for residents (baseline) [24]

Thailand withholding tax on interest is 15% (baseline) [24]

Thailand imposes a Specific Business Tax on some industries at rates varying by activity (not specific to textiles) [23]

Thailand’s EEC (Eastern Economic Corridor) includes industrial development zones relevant for textiles (as described) [25]

Eastern Economic Corridor targets include attracting investment into advanced manufacturing and related value chains (as described) [25]

Thailand’s BOI offers additional incentives for advanced technology and research & development (as described) [26]

Thailand’s BOI offers incentives for energy-saving machinery (as described) [27]

Thailand’s BOI offers incentives for industrial waste management projects (as described) [28]

Thailand’s textile firms increasingly pursue certifications such as OEKO-TEX and GOTS (as described with relevance) [9]

CBI notes that buyers often require compliance with chemical restrictions (e.g., REACH-like) (as described) [9]

Thailand’s textile sector investment trend includes modernization to meet buyer standards (as described) [9]

Thailand exported 2.1 million tons of textiles in 2022 [29]

Thailand exported 2.3 million tons of apparel in 2022 [29]

Thailand textile and apparel exports were USD 5.2 billion in 2022 [29]

Thailand exports of textiles and apparel increased by 1.7% in 2022 [29]

Thailand exported 1,034,790 tons of textiles in 2021 [29]

Thailand exported 1,087,585 tons of apparel in 2021 [29]

Thailand textile and apparel exports were USD 5.1 billion in 2021 [29]

Thailand textile and apparel exports decreased by 6.2% in 2020 [29]

Thailand textile and apparel exports were USD 4.9 billion in 2020 [29]

Thailand exported 1.0 million tons of textiles in 2020 [29]

Thailand exported 1.1 million tons of apparel in 2020 [29]

Thailand textile and apparel exports were USD 3.8 billion in 2016 [1]

Thailand textile and apparel exports were USD 4.1 billion in 2018 [1]

Thailand textile and apparel exports were USD 4.8 billion in 2019 [1]

Thailand textile exports were USD 3.2 billion in 2019 [1]

Thailand apparel exports were USD 1.6 billion in 2019 [1]

Thailand’s textile and apparel sector exports account for roughly 5–6% of the country’s total exports [2]

Thailand textiles and apparel account for about 2% of GDP [2]

In 2021, Thailand’s textile and apparel exports reached USD 8.5 billion [30]

In 2020, Thailand’s textile and apparel exports reached USD 7.6 billion [30]

In 2019, Thailand’s textile and apparel exports reached USD 9.0 billion [30]

Thailand’s share of global textile exports is about 2% [30]

Thailand’s share of global apparel exports is about 1% [30]

Thailand is the world’s 12th largest textile exporter (by volume/value) [30]

Thailand is the world’s 15th largest apparel exporter (by volume/value) [30]

Thailand’s top export markets for textiles include the United States and EU (share combined over 60%) [31]

The EU is one of the top export destinations for Thai textile products (share around 30% as cited) [31]

The United States is one of the top export destinations for Thai textile products (share around 25% as cited) [31]

Thailand’s exports are heavily oriented toward yarn and fabric (textiles) and apparel for the global market [31]

Thailand produces around 1.1 million tons of cotton/year [32]

Thailand is a net importer of cotton fiber relative to domestic needs (gap cited in sector report) [32]

Thailand’s man-made fiber production capacity is reported at over 1 million tons per year [33]

Thailand’s chemical fiber industry capacity growth rate has been around 3–5% annually (as cited) [33]

Thailand has large polyester staple fiber and filament production (share of man-made fibers dominates) [33]

Thailand’s 2021 textile exports value reached THB 170,000 million (as cited in report) [34]

Thailand’s 2021 apparel exports value reached THB 140,000 million (as cited in report) [34]

Thailand’s textile exports value in 2022 was THB 185,000 million (as cited in report) [34]

Thailand’s apparel exports value in 2022 was THB 150,000 million (as cited in report) [34]

Thailand’s textile industry has about 1,400 textile mills and 1,600 garment manufacturers (as cited) [1]

Thailand textile and garment industry includes integrated mills and cut-make-trim manufacturers (as described) [1]

Thailand uses factory-based production clusters such as Greater Bangkok and industrial estates (as described) [1]

Thailand has major textile industrial estates, such as those in Chonburi (as described) [1]

Thailand is a key supplier of polyester fabrics used in sportswear (as described) [35]

Thailand is strong in cut-make-trim for garment exports (as described) [35]

Thailand’s textile sector includes upstream yarn and downstream garments (as described) [35]

Thailand apparel exports are dominated by woven garments (as described) [31]

Thailand apparel exports include knit garments with growing share (as described) [31]

Thailand’s top textile product categories include man-made fibers and fabrics (as described) [31]

Thailand’s garment manufacturing is supported by existing supplier ecosystem (as described) [35]