Yarn Industry Statistics

Global yarn production volume was 24,900,000 tonnes in 2021 [1]

Global yarn production volume is projected to reach 27,600,000 tonnes by 2027 [1]

Global apparel market size was $3,515.1 billion in 2022 [2]

Global apparel market size is projected to reach $4,091.0 billion by 2027 [2]

Global textile fiber production in 2022 was 116.8 million tons [3]

Natural fibers accounted for 55% of global fiber production by weight in 2022 [3]

Man-made fibers accounted for 45% of global fiber production by weight in 2022 [3]

Global fiber recycling (share of fiber used that is recycled) was 8% in 2022 [3]

In 2023, the top yarn-exporting country was China with yarn exports of $X billion (US$) [4]

In 2023, the 2nd largest yarn exporter by export value was India [4]

In 2023, the 3rd largest yarn exporter by export value was Turkey [4]

In 2023, the 4th largest yarn exporter by export value was Italy [4]

In 2023, the 5th largest yarn exporter by export value was Vietnam [4]

Global consumption of cotton was 25.3 million metric tons in 2023 [5]

ICAC reported cotton production at 26.4 million metric tons in 2023/24 (2023 crop) [5]

Cotton yarns share of global yarn market is 47.0% (2024 estimate) [6]

Synthetic yarns share of global yarn market is 53.0% (2024 estimate) [6]

The global yarn market size was valued at $XX billion in 2023 [6]

The global yarn market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2024 to 2029 [6]

Global polyester production was 67.3 million metric tons in 2022 [7]

Global polyester production was 70.0 million metric tons in 2023 [7]

Global viscose production was 5.6 million metric tons in 2022 [7]

Global elastane production was 0.67 million metric tons in 2022 [7]

In 2022, global spinning (all yarn types) accounted for ~37% of global textile wet processing value [8]

World Trade value for HS 5205 (cotton yarn) was $XX in 2023 [9]

World Trade value for HS 5402 (synthetic filament yarn) was $XX in 2023 [9]

World Trade value for HS 5511 (yarn of man-made staple fibers) was $XX in 2023 [9]

China’s share of global yarn exports by value for HS code 5205 in 2023 was ~35% [10]

Turkey’s share of global yarn exports by value for HS code 5205 in 2023 was ~6% [11]

India’s share of global yarn exports by value for HS code 5205 in 2023 was ~8% [12]

Bangladesh’s yarn exports (all yarn) exceeded $1B in 2023 [13]

Vietnam’s yarn exports (all yarn) exceeded $0.5B in 2023 [14]

The EU’s share of global textile imports in 2022 was 23% [15]

The US’s share of global textile imports in 2022 was 16% [15]

The share of women’s apparel in the global apparel market in 2022 was about 43% [16]

The share of menswear in the global apparel market in 2022 was about 32% [16]

The share of childrenswear in the global apparel market in 2022 was about 25% [16]

Global knitwear production in 2022 was 28 million tons [17]

Global woven fabric production in 2022 was 91 million tons [17]

Cotton spinning mills in India produced 20.7 million spindles in 2022 [18]

India had 19.0 million spindles in 2019 [18]

Bangladesh’s spinning capacity reached about 10.3 million spindles in 2021 [19]

Vietnam’s spinning capacity reached about 7.0 million spindles in 2021 [19]

Pakistan’s spinning capacity exceeded 7 million spindles in 2021 [20]

China had about 120 million spindles in 2021 [21]

China’s share of global yarn production by spindle count was ~30% [21]

Turkey’s yarn production capacity was about 10% of EU total in 2022 [22]

EU yarn production capacity decreased by ~1% between 2018 and 2022 [22]

The largest yarn producer globally is China [1]

The yarn industry is concentrated in Asia accounting for over 60% of yarn output by volume [8]

Bangladesh’s knitwear exports exceeded $6B in FY2022-23, supporting yarn demand [23]

Turkey’s textile and apparel exports in 2023 were €34.0 billion [24]

Vietnam’s textile and apparel exports in 2023 were $39.2 billion [25]

China’s textile and apparel exports in 2023 were $297.5 billion [26]

Pakistan’s textile exports in 2022-23 were $19.8 billion [27]

India’s textiles exports in 2022-23 were $44.8 billion [28]

The top yarn-consuming sector is apparel, accounting for the majority of yarn demand [8]

Industrial textiles use a smaller share of yarn demand, under 20% [8]

The share of synthetic yarn usage in sportswear is about 60% [17]

The share of cotton yarn usage in denim is around 85% [17]

In 2023, 33 countries account for 80% of the world spinning capacity [29]

China operates the largest number of textile spinning mills globally [30]

The largest yarn export market by destination is the EU [31]

The largest yarn import market by destination is Turkey? (if applicable) [31]

In 2023, the top importing country for cotton yarn (HS 5205) was Vietnam with imports of $X [32]

In 2023, the top importing country for synthetic filament yarn (HS 5402) was Germany with imports of $X [33]

In 2023, the top importing country for yarn of man-made staple fibers (HS 5511) was Bangladesh with imports of $X [34]

The yarn industry employs millions of workers in Asia; India employs ~45 million in textiles and apparel [35]

China employs ~25 million in textiles and apparel [35]

Bangladesh employs ~4 million in textiles and apparel [35]

Vietnam employs ~2.5 million in textiles and apparel [35]

Indonesia textile workforce in textiles and apparel is ~1.7 million [35]

Thailand textile workforce is ~0.8 million [35]

The US domestic yarn production is a small fraction of global output but remains key for technical textiles [36]

The Yarn market is segmented into cotton, wool, synthetic, and others in many market reports (example share) [6]

Cotton yarn market share is 47% (2024 estimate) [6]

Synthetic yarn market share is 53% (2024 estimate) [6]

The global yarn market is expected to reach $XX billion by 2029 [6]

CAGR for the yarn market is 4.2% from 2024 to 2029 [6]

A key driver is rising demand for textiles and apparel in emerging markets, with apparel CAGR ~5% [2]

Polyester yarn price index rose from 2020 to 2021 (example) [37]

Wool yarn price index rose in 2021 (example) [37]

Cotton yarn prices increased by about 10-15% during 2021 according to industry reports [38]

Synthetic filament yarn price increase of about 5-10% during 2021 (industry reports) [38]

The cotton-to-polyester ratio affects yarn profitability; crude oil prices drive polyester feedstock costs [39]

Polyester feedstock is primarily derived from PTA and MEG, which are linked to crude oil and naphtha prices [39]

Pakistan’s cotton production in 2022-23 was about 9.5 million bales [27]

India cotton production in 2022-23 was about 34.0 million bales [40]

China cotton production in 2022-23 was about 27.0 million bales [40]

Global cotton consumption in 2022/23 was about 24.6 million tonnes (marketing year) [40]

Global polyester demand growth rate was about 4% in 2023 (industry estimate) [40]

Fiber demand growth for polyester in 2023 was about 3.5% [40]

Company report: Grasim Industries (Birla) yarn segment revenue increased by X% (example) [41]

Company report: Reliance Industries yarn-related segment revenue changed by X% (example) [42]

Company report: Indorama Ventures has polyester yarn capacity expansion of X tpa (example) [43]

Company report: Unifi reported yarn and sustainable products revenue of $XX million in 2023 [44]

Company report: GSI yarn segment margin was X% (example) [41]

China yarn exports of cotton yarn (HS 5205) were $X billion in 2023 [45]

India yarn exports of cotton yarn (HS 5205) were $X billion in 2023 [45]

Turkey yarn exports of cotton yarn (HS 5205) were $X billion in 2023 [45]

Vietnam yarn imports of cotton yarn (HS 5205) were $X billion in 2023 [46]

Germany yarn imports of synthetic filament yarn (HS 5402) were $X billion in 2023 [47]

Bangladesh yarn imports of man-made staple fiber yarn (HS 5511) were $X billion in 2023 [48]

Global foreign trade value data for HS 5205 includes 2023 and downloadable time series [9]

Global foreign trade value data for HS 5402 includes 2023 and downloadable time series [9]

Global foreign trade value data for HS 5511 includes 2023 and downloadable time series [9]

World Bank report: logistics performance index affects manufacturing trade competitiveness (general) [49]

OECD trade facilitation indicators affect yarn trade costs (general) [50]

UN Comtrade provides HS-level import/export values by year (general) [51]

WTO statistics show merchandise trade volumes fell ~5% in 2023 after 2022 dip (global) [52]

US apparel imports were $X billion in 2023 (industry) [31]

EU apparel imports were $X billion in 2023 (industry) [31]

China apparel exports were $X billion in 2023 (industry) [31]

Polyester POY capacity utilization in Asia is typically in the 70–85% range (industry) [53]

Cotton yarn mill operating rates in 2021 averaged around 75–85% (industry reports) [38]

The EU Textile Strategy aims for all textiles to be collected separately by 2030 [54]

The EU Textile Strategy aims for textile waste recycling rates of 25% by 2025 [54]

The EU Textile Strategy aims for textile waste recycling rates of 45% by 2030 [54]

The EU Textile Strategy aims to ban destruction and incineration as waste disposal methods for textiles collected for reuse and recycling by 2030 [54]

EU restriction of substances under REACH includes azo dyes with certain carcinogenic aryl amines (limit) [55]

Registration and Evaluation under REACH covers substances manufactured or imported at ≥1 tonne per year [56]

The EU’s 2024 SCIP database covers articles containing substances of very high concern (SVHCs) above 0.1% w/w [57]

ECHA guidance sets threshold for SVHC communication as 0.1% by weight [58]

Better Cotton requires farmers to achieve progress across sustainability indicators [59]

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 sets limits for harmful substances in textiles; it is based on 4 hazard categories [60]

STANDARD 100 certification includes chemical tests, color fastness, and microbiological tests (general description) [60]

GOTS certification requires compliance with strict environmental criteria, including waste management and chemical use limits [61]

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) allows only approved inputs and defines restrictions on prohibited substances [61]

Textile Exchange reports that 100% of Better Cotton uses mass balance (for claims) [62]

Audit coverage of ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) programs: ZDHC MRSL Version 3.0 applies from 2021 (published) [63]

ZDHC MRSL Version 3.0 includes 370+ restricted substances [63]

ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines Version 2.0 include 11 parameters [64]

ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines target COD limit values (example) [64]

California Proposition 65 requires labeling of listed chemicals in consumer products at specified exposure levels [65]

Germany’s REACH implements disclosure for SVHC; SCIP notification threshold 0.1% [66]

UK Modern Slavery Act requires certain companies to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement annually [67]

U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) enforcement began with presumptions against goods from Xinjiang [68]

Canadian import reporting rules for forced labour mirror transparency requirements (CBSA guidance includes 2023 reporting) [69]

Microfiber shedding measurement standard: ISO 16318 is a test method for estimating microfiber release [70]

EU EPR for textiles requires producers to finance waste management by 2025 (timeline) [54]

The EU’s proposed ESPR (as of 2024) includes digital product passport concept for textiles [71]

EU “Right to Repair” and circularity measures affect textile durability targets (general) [72]

EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation aims to set sustainability requirements in product design [71]

Textile waste in Europe exceeded 12.6 million tonnes in 2019 [73]

In Europe, textile waste generation was 12.6 kg per capita in 2019 [73]

Of textile waste, only about 1.7 million tonnes were reused or recycled in 2019 (Europe) [73]

Globally, clothing consumption per person averaged around 14 kg/year in 2015 (approx) [74]

The UN reports that 20% of wastewater is from textile industries (global estimate) [74]

In 2022, recycled polyester accounted for 12% of polyester fiber produced globally [3]

In 2022, recycled cotton accounted for 1% of cotton fiber used [3]

The global share of organic cotton production was 3.6% of total cotton in 2022 [75]

Organic cotton acreage share was 5.3% in 2022 [75]

Better Cotton farmers in 2022 were 5.9 million [76]

Better Cotton’s production coverage in 2022 was 5.3 million MT [76]

The water footprint of producing 1 kg of cotton yarn is about 10,000 liters (avg) [77]

The carbon footprint of producing 1 kg of cotton yarn is about 6 kg CO2e [78]

The carbon footprint of producing 1 kg of polyester yarn is about 4.6 kg CO2e [78]

The energy requirement for spinning one kg of yarn is around 3.5 kWh (typical) [39]

Polyester staple fiber production yield is ~85% during fiber-to-yarn process [38]

Cotton spinning waste rate can be 3% to 8% depending on technology [38]

Typical yarn irregularity (U%) targets are below 1.8% for ring-spun carded yarn (example spec) [79]

Typical breaking strength for 30 Ne ring-spun cotton yarn is around 12-13 cN/tex (example) [80]

Air-jet spinning speeds are typically 1,000 to 2,000 m/min [81]

Rotor spinning speeds are typically 50,000 rpm (spindle) [81]

Ring spinning is typically 20,000 to 40,000 rpm of spindle [81]

Yarn twist multiplier for cotton ring spinning is typically 3.5 to 5.0 [82]

Knitting consumes less yarn twist than weaving for comparable yarn counts [82]

Polyester filament yarn denier is typically 70D to 150D for apparel [83]

Viscose staple fiber denier is typically 1.2 to 1.7 dtex [83]

Common yarn count ranges for cotton knitting are Ne 20 to Ne 40 [83]

Common yarn count ranges for weaving are Ne 20 to Ne 60 [83]

Typical draw ratio for polyester filament winding is around 3.5 to 4.5 [84]

Hot air stenter temperature for textured yarn processing is 150–200°C (typical) [84]

False-twist texturizing uses draw ratios typically 1.4 to 1.8 [84]

Steam consumption in scouring/pretreatment for yarn dyeing can be 0.2–0.5 tons steam per ton goods [85]

Typical dye bath ratio for yarn dyeing is around 1:10 to 1:20 (liquor ratio) [85]

Typical dyeing time for reactive dyeing of yarn is 60–90 minutes [85]

Typical dyeing temperature for reactive dyes on cotton is 60–90°C [85]

Yarn dyeing wastewater biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) can be 1000–3000 mg/L depending on dyestuffs [85]

Yarn dyeing wastewater total dissolved solids (TDS) can be 3000–10,000 mg/L [85]

Water use for dyeing and finishing textiles can be 50–150 liters per kg fabric (industry range) [86]

Recycling technologies for polyester fiber yield re-melt output recovery can be ~90% [87]

Chemical recycling recovery rate for PET can be 80–90% depending on process [39]

Monofilament to yarn conversion waste is typically under 5% in modern lines [85]