Gitnux/Report 2026

Cotton Textile Industry Statistics

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Cotton Textile Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

An editor sets the topic, the inclusion criteria, and the evaluation framework before research starts.

02Source Research

AI search agents locate sources and extract each figure together with the document it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The cotton textile industry at a glance

Cotton remains the second-largest textile fiber, with 25.7 million tonnes produced globally in 2025 and Asia continuing to dominate processing and consumption.

$46B[78]
Global cotton production value, 2025
118.0M bales[16]
Global production forecast, 2026/27
39.2%[79]
Cotton textile revenue share, 2025
79%[80]
Top five production-country share, 2025/26
Market size
Global cotton production was estimated at 25.7 million tonnes in 2025, with an estimated production value of approximately $46 billion. As a narrower downstream benchmark, the global cotton clothing-fibers market generated $72.6 billion in revenue in 2025.[78][79]
Forecast & CAGR
The cotton clothing-fibers market is forecast to reach $109.8 billion by 2033, implying a 5.4% CAGR from 2025 to 2033. Separately, the International Cotton Advisory Committee projects world cotton trade to increase from 9.4 million tonnes in 2025/26 to about 10.3 million tonnes in 2028/29.[79][24]
Market share & regions
Asia Pacific accounted for 49.9% of global textile-market revenue in 2025. China, India, Brazil, the United States and Pakistan together represented about 79% of global cotton production in 2025/26, while China and India accounted for more than half of global cotton mill use in 2025.[79][80][78]
Segmentation
Cotton textile demand is concentrated in fashion and clothing, which represented 72.7% of global textile-market revenue in 2025, followed by household and technical applications. Within the broader textile market, cotton held the largest raw-material share at 39.2% in 2025.[79]
Key players & concentration
The supply base is geographically concentrated: the five largest cotton-producing countries accounted for about 79% of global production in 2025/26. Brazil is projected to remain the largest raw-cotton exporter in 2025/26, accounting for more than 30% of global cotton trade.[80]
Pricing
Cotton prices have generally declined since the start of the 2025/26 season as production prospects and exportable supplies improved, while weak textile demand and higher stocks added pressure. In India, cotton-yarn prices reportedly rose approximately 60%, from about ₹250 per kilogram in early 2026 to around ₹400 per kilogram by August 2026.[80][81]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Global cotton mill use is projected to rise 1.9% to 123.1 million bales in 2026/27, while production is forecast to fall 3.4% to 118.0 million bales, reducing ending stocks to their lowest level since 2011/12. Key challenges include competition from lower-cost polyester, subdued apparel demand, climate exposure and traceability gaps.[16][80][50]
Consumer behavior & competition
Cotton competes with chemical fibers that held 77.6% of the global end-use fiber market in 2024, compared with 22.4% for cotton. Sustainability is becoming a competitive differentiator: reporting brands increased the share of cotton sourced through sustainability programs from 77% in 2023 to 84% in 2024.[80][50]
M&A
A disclosed 2025 transaction in the textile value chain was New Wave Group’s agreement to acquire 100% of Austrian wholesaler Cotton Classics for an enterprise value of €47.6 million. Cotton Classics reported 2024 revenue of €96.7 million and served around 50 international apparel brands.[82]
Regulation
The European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation work plan identifies textile apparel as a priority for future ecodesign requirements and Digital Product Passport rules. The revised EU Waste Framework Directive, which entered into force on October 16, 2025, also introduces extended-producer-responsibility fees that can be adjusted according to durability and recyclability.[83][84]
Latest news
The latest USDA October 2026 outlook forecasts 2026/27 global cotton production at 118.0 million bales and mill use at 123.1 million bales, implying a 5.0-million-bale year-on-year decline in ending stocks. In July 2026, ICAC projected world cotton trade to reach approximately 10.3 million tonnes by 2028/29.[16][24]

02 Ranking

Top 7 Companies in the Cotton Textile Industry

The leading companies in the cotton textile industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 11, 2026 · Next review December 11, 2026

Verdict

Reliance Industries leads Gitnux's 2026 cotton textile ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with revenue growth 7.1% and operating margin 7.2%. Gildan is the highest-ranked apparel producer at 9.1, with revenue growth 10.6%.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in integrated textile manufacturing

    Reliance Industries

    IN

    Ranked #1 · 9.3 · Integrated textile manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It spans fiber to fabric in integrated cotton and synthetic textiles, with reported 7.1% revenue growth.

    See in ranking ↓Visit ril.com ↗

  2. Leader in cotton apparel value chain

    Gildan

    CA

    Ranked #2 · 9.1 · Cotton apparel value chain

    Why we picked it: It spins cotton yarn, knits and dyes fabric, then cuts and sews apparel, reporting 10.6% revenue growth.

    See in ranking ↓Visit gildancorp.com ↗

  3. Leader in cotton denim and woven fabrics

    Arvind

    IN

    Ranked #3 · 9.0 · Cotton denim and woven fabrics

    Why we picked it: It produces cotton denim, woven fabrics and garments for global customers, with reported 12% revenue growth.

    See in ranking ↓Visit arvind.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 7 companies in the cotton textile industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Reliance Industries

Integrated textile manufacturing · IN

9.3
2

Gildan

Cotton apparel value chain · CA

9.1
3

Arvind

Cotton denim and woven fabrics · IN

9.0
4

Vardhman Textiles

Integrated textile manufacturing · IN

8.4
5

Nishat Mills

Integrated textile manufacturing · PK

8.2
6

Parkdale Mills

Cotton and blended yarn spinning · US

7.9
7

Hayelco

Cotton spinning and yarn, Saudi Arabia · SA

7.0

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 11, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 11). Top 7 companies in the cotton textile industry. In Cotton Textile Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cotton-textile-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Cotton production in marketing year 2025/26

China leads with 35.8 million 480 lb bales.

China35.8 million 480 lb bales
India23.8 million 480 lb bales
Brazil18.8 million 480 lb bales
United States13.9 million 480 lb bales
Pakistan5.3 million 480 lb bales
Australia4.5 million 480 lb bales
source-verifiedfas.usda.gov

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

Research-backed automation indicators include 98% defect-detection accuracy for AI computer-vision systems reviewed in 2026. Adoption evidence also shows 30–50% lower textile waste in 2026 systematic reviews.

AI in the cotton textile industry

  • 98% defect-detection accuracy was reported for AI computer-vision systems reviewed in textile-industry research published in 2026.[1]
  • 8% of textile SMEs had adopted artificial intelligence in 2023, with applications including production optimisation, automation, material selection and design.[2]
  • 49% greater supply-chain forecasting accuracy was reported for AI-based demand forecasting than for traditional methods in a 2026 textile-industry review.[1]
  • 30–50% lower textile waste was reported for AI applications reviewed in a 2026 systematic review of textile-industry studies.[1]
  • 25% of textile-ecosystem companies used artificial intelligence in 2024, up from 8% in 2023, according to an EU enterprise survey.[2]
  • 90% shorter inspection time was reported for AI-enabled textile inspection in a 2026 systematic review.[1]

Automation in the cotton textile industry

  • 32.4% of Texas manufacturing respondents said in May 2025 that they would definitely or probably increase automation or AI use because of tariffs; textile mills were among the respondents.[3]
  • 13% of textile SMEs used robotics in 2023, according to the European Commission’s textile-ecosystem technology-adoption survey.[2]

Digital Transformation in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 65% of textile companies in the 2023 sample had a website, according to analysis of company websites in the EU textile ecosystem.[2]
  • 38.3% of textile-ecosystem SMEs in the EU used online platforms in 2023.[2]
  • 26% of textile-ecosystem companies in the EU reported having a concrete digital-transformation strategy in 2024.[2]
  • 4.8% of textile-ecosystem SMEs in the EU had adopted digital-twin technology in 2023.[2]

Technology Adoption in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 58% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used supply-chain-management software in 2023.[4]
  • 54% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used product-lifecycle-management software in 2023.[4]
  • 58% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used enterprise resource planning software in 2023.[4]
  • 68% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used an online payment platform in 2023.[4]
  • 40% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used electronic data interchange in 2023.[4]
  • 44% of North American fashion and apparel manufacturers used warehouse-management systems in 2023.[4]

Cloud Computing in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 48% of apparel organizations with revenue of $100 million or more were in the process of moving to cloud ERP in 2025.[4]
  • 32.3% of textile-ecosystem SMEs in the EU had adopted cloud technologies in 2023.[5]
  • 33% of textile-ecosystem companies in the EU used cloud technology in 2024.[2]
  • 39% of apparel organizations with revenue below $100 million were in the process of moving to cloud ERP in 2025.[4]
  • 19% of apparel organizations with revenue of $100 million or more had already moved to cloud ERP in 2025.[4]
  • 16% of apparel organizations with revenue below $100 million had already moved to cloud ERP in 2025.[4]

Big Data in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 12.8% of European textile SMEs had adopted Big Data and related data analytics in 2023, according to the European Monitor of Industrial Ecosystems survey.[2]
  • 12% of companies in the European textile ecosystem reported Big Data adoption in 2024, based on the EMI Enterprise Survey.[2]
  • 12.8% of textile-ecosystem SMEs in the EU had adopted big-data technologies in 2023.[2]
  • 12% of textile-ecosystem companies in the EU used big-data technology in 2024.[2]
  • 52% of surveyed Indian companies said they were likely or very likely to adopt Big Data analytics within five years in 2023; the report identifies textile companies among respondents.[6]

Blockchain in the cotton textile industry

  • More than half of Better Cotton entering global fashion and textile supply chains was traceable in 2025.[7]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Traceability data volumes have scaled in recent seasons: Trust Protocol cotton traceability covered 75,000 purchase orders in 2024–25. That season also linked 690 million finished products to traceability data.

Business intelligence in the cotton textile industry

  • Cotton Incorporated’s customized CRM provided more robust metrics and more accurate reporting for global textile-industry accounts in 2024.[8]
  • 100% of REEL Cotton was traceable through CottonConnect’s TraceBale digital platform in 2024–25.[9]
  • PCCU uptake increased 413% year over year in the Trust Protocol’s 2024–25 cotton traceability programme.[10]
  • More than 2,000 Better Cotton supplier and manufacturer members were aligned with the chain-of-custody standard by November 2025, up from 700 in 2024.[7]
  • 152,174 metric tonnes of REEL-program lint cotton were traced through TraceBale in 2024–25.[9]
  • 690 million finished products were represented by cotton traceability data across 75,000 purchase orders in the Trust Protocol’s 2024–25 season.[10]

Data analytics in the cotton textile industry

  • 7.5% higher yields were recorded among REEL farmers than control farmers in 2024–25 across six cotton-producing countries.[9]
  • 1.3% less water use was recorded among REEL farmers than control farmers in 2024–25 across six cotton-producing countries.[9]
  • 34.9% higher profits were recorded among REEL farmers than control farmers in 2024–25 across six cotton-producing countries.[9]
  • 93% safety-compliance performance was recorded in 2024–25, up from 71%, in CottonConnect’s aggregated cotton programme results.[9]
  • 15.4% lower input costs were recorded among REEL farmers than control farmers in 2024–25 across six cotton-producing countries.[9]
  • 15.2% less chemical pesticide use was recorded among REEL farmers than control farmers in 2024–25 across six cotton-producing countries.[9]

Data Quality in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 79% of yarn-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]
  • 51% of garment-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]
  • 75% of fabric-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]
  • 44% of fashion and apparel businesses verified their current traceability data in 2025, based on a survey of more than 450 industry professionals globally.[12]
  • 46% of fashion and apparel businesses had visibility into Tier 4 raw-material suppliers in 2025, according to a global industry survey.[12]
  • 77% of raw-material-level textile firms could report process input and output volumes at batch level in 2025 across the surveyed Global South markets.[11]

Data Governance in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 83% of surveyed textile firms in the Global South actively shared product-related data with suppliers in 2025, while 17% had not adopted this practice.[11]
  • 30% of textile firms using recognized data-sharing standards reported using ISO/IEC 27001 in 2025, making it the most commonly cited standard.[11]
  • 38% of surveyed textile firms in the Global South used recognized industry standards for data sharing in 2025, while 44% used none and 18% were unsure.[11]
  • 32% of raw-material suppliers in the surveyed textile supply chains used recognized data-sharing standards in 2025, compared with 55% that used none.[11]
  • 45% of textile firms not affected by the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation reported using industry data-sharing standards in 2025.[11]
  • 52% of textile firms affected by the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation reported using industry data-sharing standards in 2025.[11]

KPIs in the cotton textile industry

  • 100% of REEL Cotton was tracked through CottonConnect’s TraceBale platform in 2024–25, the programme’s traceability KPI.[9]
  • 75,000 purchase orders were covered by Trust Protocol cotton traceability data during the 2024–25 season.[10]
  • More than 50% of BCI Cotton volumes entering global fashion and textile supply chains were traceable by November 2025.[7]
  • 690 million finished products were linked to Trust Protocol cotton traceability data during the 2024–25 season.[10]
  • 20 brands tracked approximately 126,000 tons of Trust Protocol fiber during the 2024–25 season.[10]
  • 413% year-over-year growth in PCCU uptake was reported by the Trust Protocol for the 2024–25 season.[10]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Mill use is projected to rise while production falls into 2026/27, with ending stocks forecast to drop to the lowest level since 2011/12. Trade is projected to expand toward about 10.3 million tonnes by 2028/29.

Growth in the cotton textile industry

  • 21.3% was India’s projected share of world cotton production in 2035/36.[13]
  • 1.8 million bales was the projected increase in world cotton trade from 2025/26 to 2026/27.[13]
  • 27.2% was China’s projected share of world cotton production in 2035/36.[13]
  • 11.3% was the United States’ projected share of world cotton production in 2035/36.[13]
  • 29% was the projected U.S. share of global cotton trade in 2026/27.[13]
  • 7.6% was the projected year-over-year increase in Turkey’s cotton mill use in 2024/25.[14]

Differentiation in the cotton textile industry

  • Below 25% was cotton’s share of global fiber consumption in recent years, down from nearly 40% in the early 2000s.[15]
  • About 25% was cotton’s average share of total world fiber use in 2025.[16]
  • About 20% was cotton’s share of global fiber-market volume in 2023.[17]
  • 50% was Italy’s share of global wool-fabric exports in the high-value niche cited by UN Trade and Development.[17]
  • Almost 75% was the share of global fiber production accounted for by synthetic fibers in 2023.[17]
  • 65%–70% was the share of traded yarn and fabric value accounted for by man-made fibers in 2023.[17]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce turnover and retention remain measurable constraints in cotton mills, with 53% of newly hired workers leaving during the first year in a Turkish cohort study. U.S. textile hiring needs were estimated using a 31.4% turnover assumption.

Hiring in the cotton textile industry

  • 7,993 new employees per year were estimated to be hired for U.S. textile operations under the 31.4% turnover assumption.[18]
  • 31.4% annual employee turnover was used to estimate hiring needs for U.S. textile operations in an OSHA regulatory analysis.[18]
  • 13% of newly hired workers in the Turkish cotton-mill cohort left during their first week of employment.[19]
  • 53% of newly hired workers in the Turkish cotton-mill cohort left the mill environment during their first year.[19]
  • 198 newly hired workers were followed for one year in a Turkish cotton-spinning-mill study of early employment exit.[19]

Employee retention in the cotton textile industry

  • Registered-apprenticeship programmes were reported by U.S. textile stakeholders to produce lower attrition rates in participating businesses in 2024.[20]
  • 35% was the one-year textile-industry labour-turnover rate cited for Turkey in a study of cotton-spinning workers.[19]
  • 25% of cotton-mill workers who later left reported work-related lower-respiratory-tract symptoms at month three, compared with 4.8% among workers who remained.[19]
  • 53% of newly hired workers left a Turkish cotton-spinning-mill environment within their first working year.[19]
  • 13% of workers in a Turkish cotton-mill cohort left within the first week of employment.[19]

Remote Work in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • In 2024, 15% of non-factory-floor employees at surveyed global manufacturers worked fully remotely, compared with 8% of factory-floor employees.[21]
  • Among non-manager manufacturing employees able to work remotely, 67% can work from home two days per week, according to a 2024 member survey.[22]
  • Across U.S. manufacturers, 95% of employees with work flexibility use it, according to a 2024 member survey covering operations and production roles.[22]
  • In a global survey of more than 1,000 fashion professionals, 65% identified flexible working policies as the most important employer benefit.[23]

Hybrid Work in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • In 2025, 23% of surveyed manufacturers were actively updating hybrid policies to add more structure around required office days.[22]
  • Among fashion and beauty professionals globally, 52% preferred a hybrid schedule with two or three days in the office.[23]
  • Among global manufacturers in 2024, 42% of non-factory-floor employees worked in hybrid arrangements, compared with 10% of factory-floor employees.[21]
  • Across surveyed manufacturers in 2025, 79% operated a hybrid model for non-production employees, while 17% were fully back in the office.[22]

Upskilling in the cotton textile industry

  • Some U.S. textile businesses partnered with community colleges and vocational schools to deliver longer training programmes and operator certifications in 2024.[20]
  • U.S. textile businesses used internships, cooperative education and apprenticeships as workforce-training routes in 2024.[20]
  • Cross-training production employees was preferred by multiple U.S. textile stakeholders to support development, cover workforce gaps and shift workers between product lines in 2024.[20]
  • 30–40% higher adoption of best cotton-farming practices was associated with training women in Maharashtra, India, according to a two-year gender analysis.[7]
  • 43% of labour in global cotton production was estimated to be contributed by women, who were identified as facing limited access to training and other resources.[24]

Employee Engagement in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • Burberry reported a colleague engagement score of 74 points in its fiscal 2023/24 Glint survey.[25]
  • Fast Retailing reported a 78.0% overall employee-engagement index in its fiscal 2025 survey, covering 36,827 respondents globally.[26]
  • Moncler Group recorded a 76% employee engagement rate in 2024, based on responses from 6,777 employees worldwide.[25]
  • H&M Group reported an employee satisfaction score of 76 out of 100 in 2024, up from 75 in 2023.[27]
  • Global Fashion Group reported that 76% of employees would recommend it as a great place to work in its 2025 engagement survey.[28]

DEI in the cotton textile industry

  • 43% of labour in global cotton production was estimated to be contributed by women in an ICAC global survey.[24]
  • 80% of the global textile-industry workforce was female, according to the International Labour Organization in 2023.[29]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer-facing fiber identification aligns with cotton-specific labeling: 90% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton helps identify a product as containing cotton in 2023. Durability benchmarks show 4.9 years average ownership for garments with 80%–99% cotton in 2025.

Customer experience in the cotton textile industry

  • 75.33% of Cotton Knit’s customers were satisfied in Peru in 2023, based on its customer-satisfaction survey.[30]
  • 82% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton helps them understand fiber ingredients in 2023.[31]
  • 90% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton helps identify a product as containing cotton in 2023.[31]
  • 73% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton helps them make an informed purchase decision in 2023.[31]
  • 81% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton makes their shopping experience easier in 2023.[31]

Customer retention in the cotton textile industry

  • 4.9 years was the average ownership period for garments containing 80%–99% cotton in the 2025 global durability survey.[31]
  • 5.5 years was the average ownership period for 100%-cotton garments in the 2025 global durability survey.[31]
  • 41% of UK consumers said they would shop elsewhere if fashion clothing lasted less than six months in 2025.[32]
  • 46% of UK consumers said they would stop buying a fashion brand if its clothing lasted less than six months in 2025.[32]
  • 24% of UK consumers said they would complain to a retailer if disappointed by the longevity of a fashion purchase in 2025.[32]

Customer loyalty in the cotton textile industry

  • 38% of Gen Z consumers said natural-fiber clothing such as cotton would make them feel more connected or loyal to a brand.[31]
  • 47% of consumers said they were less loyal to apparel brands than a few years earlier in Cotton Incorporated research.[31]
  • 55% of Millennials said natural-fiber clothing such as cotton would make them feel more connected or loyal to a brand.[31]
  • 38% of Boomers said natural-fiber clothing such as cotton would make them feel more connected or loyal to a brand.[31]
  • 71% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton creates loyalty to a brand using the logo in 2023.[31]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Consumer communications show large reach in 2024, including 1.7 billion Seal of Cotton impressions from Cotton Incorporated’s consumer marketing activities. Program reporting also includes 63.6 million impressions for Blue Jeans Go Green.

Marketing in the cotton textile industry

  • More than 350,000 pieces of denim had been collected through Blue Jeans Go Green in 2024.[33]
  • 63.6 million impressions were generated by sustainability and circularity messaging for the Blue Jeans Go Green program in 2024.[33]
  • 1.7 billion Seal of Cotton impressions were generated by Cotton Incorporated’s consumer marketing activities in 2024.[33]
  • 2 million clicks were generated for TheFabricOfOurLives.com through consumer engagement in 2024.[33]
  • 278 million impressions were generated by The Fabric of Now video content across television and streaming platforms in 2024.[33]

Digital marketing in the cotton textile industry

  • 46.6 million impressions were delivered by Cotton’s 2023 TikTok Reach campaign for athletic-wear messaging.[8]
  • 49 million digital-video completions were delivered by Cotton Incorporated’s 2023 campaign.[8]
  • 1.67% was the click-through rate for Cotton’s 2024 dedicated email slow-shop promotion with Well+Good.[8]
  • 461 million combined linear-TV, streaming and digital impressions were delivered by Cotton Incorporated’s 2023 campaign.[8]
  • 95.75% was the overall video-completion rate for Cotton Naturals digital creative in 2023.[8]

Branding in the cotton textile industry

  • 78% of U.S. consumers recognized the Seal of Cotton trademark in 2023, compared with 18% in 1973.[31]
  • 69% of U.S. consumers said a brand using the Seal of Cotton is stylish and on-trend in 2023.[31]
  • 88% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton is a welcome identifier of product content in 2023.[31]
  • 87% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton helps them understand fiber ingredients in 2023.[31]
  • 88% of U.S. consumers said the Seal of Cotton makes them feel more positive toward a brand using the logo in 2023.[31]

Social media in the cotton textile industry

  • 244 single-photo posts, 142 carousels and 48 videos made up the 434 @discovercotton Instagram stimuli analyzed from 2021 to 2023.[34]
  • 64 influencers participated in Cotton Incorporated’s social-media programs in 2024.[33]
  • 8.48% of the 434 @discovercotton Instagram stimuli analyzed from 2021 to 2023 depicted cotton, a cotton plant or the Seal of Cotton.[34]
  • 110,143 likes were recorded across 434 @discovercotton Instagram posts analyzed from March 2021 to March 2023.[34]
  • 5,799 comments were recorded across 434 @discovercotton Instagram posts analyzed from March 2021 to March 2023.[34]

Influencer Marketing in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • 1.8% was the average influencer engagement rate for giant fashion brands, compared with 1.9% for challengers and 1.6% for up-and-comers in 2024.[35]
  • $15.1 billion in earned media value was generated by the top 100 global fashion brands in 2025.[36]
  • 1.21 trillion impressions were generated by fashion influencer content globally in 2023, primarily on Instagram.[37]
  • 1.53% was the average engagement rate for fashion influencer content in 2023, rising to 2.26% on TikTok.[37]
  • 25% of fashion earned media value came from TikTok globally in 2025, following 45.2% year-over-year growth in TikTok fashion earned media value.[36]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operational benchmarks for manufacturing include modeled dyeing and finishing inputs in Zhejiang: 3.0 tonnes of steam per tonne of fabric and 80–150 tonnes of fresh water per tonne of dyed cotton fabric. Capacity utilization reported 68% globally in November 2023.

Process optimization in the cotton textile industry

  • 800–1,000 kg of standard coal equivalent per tonne was the benchmark energy consumption range for producing cotton grey fabric in China.[38]
  • 3.0 tonnes of steam per tonne of fabric was the modeled value for cotton dyeing and finishing in the Zhejiang case study.[38]
  • 1.01–1.05 tonnes of cotton grey fabric were required to produce 1 tonne of dyed cotton fabric in the Zhejiang case study.[38]
  • 80–150 tonnes of fresh water were typically consumed per tonne of dyed cotton fabric in the Zhejiang case study.[38]
  • 2.5–3.5 tonnes of steam were typically consumed per tonne of cotton fabric during dyeing and finishing in Zhejiang, China.[38]

Operational efficiency in the cotton textile industry

  • 68% was the global textile capacity-utilization rate recorded in November 2023 in the ITMF survey series.[39]
  • 75% was the average global textile capacity-utilization rate in September 2024, according to ITMF’s survey of textile companies.[39]
  • 57.24% was the FY2023 capacity-utilization rate of the same Punjab cotton spinning mill.[40]
  • 98.17% was the FY2024 capacity-utilization rate of a cotton spinning mill in Punjab, Pakistan.[40]

Quality management in the cotton textile industry

  • 100% of Cotton Knit employees and contractors were covered by its occupational health and safety management system in 2024.[41]
  • 51% of Cotton Knit’s 1,126 employees were women in 2024, according to its workforce disclosure.[41]
  • 1.85 was Cotton Knit’s lost-time injury frequency rate in 2024.[41]
  • More than 90% on-time delivery was achieved by Cotton Knit in 2024, an indicator used in its customer-service quality system.[41]
  • 81% was Cotton Knit’s customer satisfaction index in 2024, covering quality, delivery, response speed and technical support.[41]

Supply chain in the cotton textile industry

  • 15 days was the minimum domestic-cotton inventory maintained by the company described in its 2024 annual report.[42]
  • 55% of textile companies reported average inventory levels across the value chain in September 2024.[39]
  • 66% of textile companies identified weak demand as a primary concern in September 2024.[39]
  • 2.2 months was the average global textile order backlog in September 2024, up from 1.9 months in March.[39]
  • 16,802 metric tonnes was the company’s reported cotton exposure quantity as of March 31, 2024.[42]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the fashion and textiles sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. fashion companies, 46 countries were used as apparel sourcing destinations in 2025.[43]
  • Among U.S. fashion companies, more than 80% planned to further reduce apparel sourcing from China over the following two years through 2027.[43]
  • Among large U.S. fashion companies with 1,000+ employees, approximately 60% sourced apparel from at least 10 countries in 2025.[43]
  • Among surveyed apparel and footwear brands globally, 49% prioritized transforming their supply base to increase margins or decrease costs over the next two years.[44]
  • Among 67 surveyed apparel and footwear brands globally, approximately 7% reported mature practices across strategic sourcing, collaborative supply planning, and proactive supplier management.[44]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Pricing and margin pressure is visible in the demand-supply outlook: cotton prices declined since the start of 2025/26, with India cotton-yarn reportedly rising about 60% to around ₹400 per kilogram by August 2026. The outlook also references expected operating-margin ranges for Indian cotton-yarn spinners.

Pricing strategy in the cotton textile industry

  • 4% was China’s share of India’s yarn exports in FY2023, according to Winsome Textile Industries.[45]
  • 10.5–11% was the expected FY2025 operating-margin range for Indian cotton-yarn spinners.[46]
  • 21% was Crescent Cotton Mills’ revenue growth in the year ended June 30, 2024, attributed partly to higher product prices.[47]
  • Low-double-digit percentage was the share of cotton costs in Hanesbrands’ cost of sales in 2024.[48]
  • 150–200 basis points was the expected FY2025 improvement in cotton-yarn operating margins as spreads and cotton availability improved.[46]

Cost reduction in the cotton textile industry

  • $499,000 per cycle was the modeled reduction in bale-handling costs for an Oklahoma cotton warehouse using a revised receiving and placement strategy.[49]
  • 1.85 was Cotton Knit’s lost-time injury frequency rate in 2024, following workplace-safety measures that reduced recordable injuries.[41]
  • $1.3 million per cycle was the modeled saving from quality-based bale substitution in an Oklahoma cotton warehouse case.[49]
  • 50% lower lighting energy consumption was reported after Cotton Knit expanded LED lighting across its facilities in 2024.[41]
  • 10 recordable workplace injuries were reported by Cotton Knit in 2024, compared with 39 in 2022.[41]

Profitability in the cotton textile industry

  • 8.5–9% was the operating-margin range of Indian cotton-yarn spinners in fiscal 2024, described as a decadal low.[46]
  • 7.723 billion Pakistani rupees was Crescent Cotton Mills’ revenue for the year ended June 30, 2024.[47]
  • 5–7% was the reported fiscal-2024 decline in Indian cotton-yarn-spinners’ revenue before the expected recovery in fiscal 2025.[46]
  • 6.2% was S.T. Cottex Exports’ operating margin in fiscal 2024, down from 11% in fiscal 2023.[46]
  • 50.675 million Pakistani rupees was Crescent Cotton Mills’ net profit for the year ended June 30, 2024.[47]

Financial planning in the cotton textile industry

  • 5–9 months was the typical period between Hanesbrands’ material-cost incurrence and finished-goods sale in 2024.[48]
  • Low-double-digit percentage was the share of cotton costs in Hanesbrands’ 2024 cost of sales.[48]
  • 10.5–11% was the expected fiscal-2025 operating-margin range for Indian cotton-yarn spinners used in industry outlook assumptions.[46]
  • 4–6% was the expected fiscal-2025 revenue growth for Indian cotton-yarn spinners used in industry financial planning assumptions.[46]
  • 15 days was the minimum domestic-cotton inventory coverage maintained under the company’s 2024 sourcing and risk-management policy.[42]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Recycled cotton volumes remain small in scale: 0.3 million tonnes of recycled cotton were produced globally in 2024 (about 1% of virgin cotton production). Waste outcomes from returns are also quantified, with 22–44% of returned textile products not resold and becoming waste.

Product lifecycle in the cotton textile industry

  • 0.3 million tonnes of recycled cotton were produced globally in 2024, equal to approximately 1% of virgin cotton production.[50]
  • 24.1 million tonnes of virgin cotton were produced globally in 2024, compared with 0.3 million tonnes of recycled cotton.[50]
  • 22–44% of returned textile products were not resold to consumers and became waste, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office review.[51]
  • 50% of separately collected textile waste in an Italy case study was reused, while less than 1% was recycled.[52]
  • 4.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent were estimated for producing 1 tonne of recycled yarns in a reviewed cotton-recycling study.[52]

After-sales in the cotton textile industry

  • 50% of separately collected textile waste was reused in the Italy scenario examined in a 2026 cotton-textile management study.[52]
  • 35% was the estimated increase in utilised clothing lifetime associated with professional repair services.[53]
  • 11% of assessed apparel companies were developing a customer take-back or repair programme in 2019.[54]
  • 0.5% of the global clothing market was represented by repair services, indicating a small formal after-sales market for cotton garments.[53]
  • 22–44% of online textile returns were estimated not to be resold to consumers and instead became waste, according to a U.S. review.[51]

Value proposition in the cotton textile industry

  • More than 50% of BCI Cotton entering global fashion and textile supply chains was traceable by November 2025, strengthening origin-based product claims.[7]
  • 17,811 sites were certified to the Organic Content Standard in 2025, a 10% increase from 2024, supporting cotton-product traceability claims.[55]
  • 57% of surveyed Australian consumers were willing to pay extra for a certified natural-fibre T-shirt, including cotton, rather than polyester.[56]
  • Nearly three-quarters of U.S. consumers named cotton, denim or cotton blends as their favourite fabrics to wear in a 2024 survey.[57]
  • U.S. organic textiles sales reached $2.7 billion in 2025, with organic cotton products leading the category.[55]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Better Cotton scale is reported via 5.64 million tonnes produced by 1.39 million licensed farmers in 2023–24. Sustainability sourcing coverage increased to 84% of cotton sourced through sustainability programs in 2024 (from 77% in 2023).

Sustainability in the cotton textile industry

  • 5.64 million tonnes of Better Cotton were produced by 1.39 million licensed farmers in the 2023–24 cotton season.[7]
  • 67% of all raw materials used by reporting brands and retailers were covered by sustainability programs in 2024.[50]
  • Nearly 4 million people received training in more sustainable cotton-growing practices through Better Cotton over the decade ending in 2024.[7]
  • 7% of cotton sourced by reporting brands and retailers was recycled cotton in 2024.[50]
  • 12% of cotton sourced by reporting brands and retailers was organic cotton in 2024.[50]

ESG in the cotton textile industry

  • 2% of total raw-material usage by reporting companies came from textile-to-textile feedstocks in 2025.[50]
  • 87% of Materials Benchmark reporting companies had more than 250 employees in 2025.[50]
  • 8% of Materials Benchmark reporting companies were headquartered in South America in 2025.[50]
  • 59% of Materials Benchmark reporting companies were headquartered in Europe in 2025.[50]
  • 24% of Materials Benchmark reporting companies were headquartered in North America in 2025.[50]

Ethics in the cotton textile industry

  • 37,000 Fairtrade cotton farmers were represented by 24 certified producer organisations in 2024.[58]
  • 25,238 tonnes of Cotton made in Africa production were also certified organic in 2024–25.[59]
  • 7,340 tonnes of Fairtrade cotton were produced in the 2024–25 season, representing 0.03% of global cotton production.[59]
  • 33% of Fairtrade cotton farmers were women according to the 2025 Fairtrade cotton impact reporting.[60]
  • Cotton from China was listed for forced labor, child labor and forced child labor in the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2024 goods list.[61]

CSR in the cotton textile industry

  • 58% of Fairtrade cotton production was also organic in 2024.[58]
  • 40,000 metric tonnes of Fairtrade cotton were produced in 2024.[58]
  • 24 Fairtrade-certified cotton producer organisations operated in 2024.[58]

Circular economy in the cotton textile industry

  • 33% of discarded textiles were assessed as suitable for recycling in the 2024 global textile-waste analysis.[62]
  • 24.1 million tonnes of virgin cotton were produced globally in 2024.[50]
  • 15.4 million tonnes of textile waste were generated annually in the United States, with 15% recovered.[63]
  • 61.4% of textile waste ended in landfill or incineration in the global textile analysis for 2024.[62]
  • 56% of U.S. textiles in the studied waste stream were suitable for fiber-to-fiber recycling, including up to 35% cotton.[63]

Carbon footprint in the cotton textile industry

  • 0.9 tonnes of CO2 equivalent were emitted per tonne of cotton produced globally in 2020.[64]
  • 12% of cotton’s carbon footprint could be reduced additionally by powering farm equipment with renewable energy in the modeled scenario.[64]
  • 1.9 tonnes of CO2 equivalent were emitted per tonne of cotton fiber produced globally in 2020.[64]
  • 63 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent were emitted by global cotton production in 2020.[64]
  • 1.37 kilograms of CO2 equivalent was the cradle-to-gate footprint of a 150-gram cotton T-shirt in a 2026 study.[65]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Trade geography is concentrated in import flows, with Bangladesh, Vietnam, China and Pakistan projected to account for 65% of global cotton imports in 2024/25. Export scale is also explicit, with 12.9 million bales projected for Brazil’s cotton exports in 2024/25.

Globalization in the cotton textile industry

  • 65% of global cotton imports in 2024/25 were projected to be accounted for by Bangladesh, Vietnam, China and Pakistan combined.[14]
  • $52.56 billion was the value of global cotton fabric trade in 2023.[73]
  • 42.3 million bales of cotton exports were projected globally for marketing year 2024/25.[14]
  • 44.6 million bales of world cotton trade were projected for marketing year 2026/27.[13]
  • $120.25 billion was the value of global cotton textile trade in 2023, comprising yarn, fabrics and madeups.[73]

Supplier management in the cotton textile industry

  • 5.5 million bales were Pakistan’s projected cotton imports in 2024/25, a 72% year-over-year increase.[14]
  • 16% was India’s share of U.S. cotton product imports in 2024.[15]
  • 12.9 million bales were Brazil’s projected cotton exports in 2024/25, nearly 5% above the previous year.[14]
  • 20% was China’s share of U.S. cotton product imports in 2024.[15]
  • 6.5 million bales were China’s projected cotton imports in 2024/25, more than 50% below the prior year.[14]

Stakeholder management in the cotton textile industry

  • More than 125,000 jobs were generated annually by the U.S. cotton industry from farming through textile milling.[16]
  • 2,206 village cooperatives organized cotton producers in Benin in 2025.[74]
  • 183,746 cotton producers were organized in Benin through at least 2,206 village cooperatives in 2025.[74]
  • More than $21 billion in products and services were generated annually by the U.S. cotton industry.[16]

Distribution channels in the cotton textile industry

  • 80% of surveyed clothing shoppers used online-only stores in 2023.[10]
  • 47% of surveyed clothing shoppers used peer-to-peer selling online in 2023.[10]
  • 34% of surveyed clothing shoppers used subscription-based home delivery online in 2023.[10]
  • 43% of surveyed clothing shoppers used online sports or sporting-goods stores in 2023.[10]
  • 30% of surveyed clothing shoppers used online premium stores in 2023.[10]

16 Statistics

Regional markets

Historical concentration is measurable for Ahmedabad’s mills: 81 cotton mills operated in 1936–37 with 19,76,370 installed spindles and 48,833 installed looms. Employment scale was reported at 97,218 cotton-mill operatives employed daily in 1935.

The cotton textile industry in Ahmedabad

  • 17,22,511 hundredweight of cotton was consumed by Ahmedabad’s cotton mills in 1936–37, equivalent to 4,92,146 bales of 392 pounds.[75]
  • More than 60 textile mills operated in Ahmedabad by the 1950s, according to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s heritage account.[76]
  • 81 cotton mills operated in Ahmedabad in 1936–37, with 19,76,370 installed spindles and 48,833 installed looms.[75]
  • 97,218 cotton-mill operatives were employed daily in Ahmedabad in 1935, representing the city’s average daily cotton-textile employment for that year.[75]
  • 74,302 people were employed daily by Ahmedabad’s cotton mills in 1936–37.[75]

The cotton textile industry in India

  • USD 12,299 million of Indian cotton textiles were exported in fiscal year 2024–25.[77]
  • India’s domestic textile and apparel production was approximately USD 175.7 billion in fiscal year 2023–24.[77]
  • More than 45 million people were directly employed by India’s textile and apparel sector in 2024.[77]

Key questions about the cotton textile industry

What is the current market size for cotton textiles and adjacent cotton-fibers demand benchmarks?
Global cotton production was estimated at 25.7 million tonnes in 2025 with an estimated production value of about $46 billion. As a downstream benchmark, the global cotton clothing-fibers market generated $72.6 billion revenue in 2025.
How is demand and production trending for 2026?
Global cotton mill use is projected to rise 1.9% to 123.1 million bales in 2026/27 while production is forecast to fall 3.4% to 118.0 million bales. USDA’s October 2026 outlook also forecasts 2026/27 production at 118.0 million bales and mill use at 123.1 million bales.
Which companies lead the cotton textile industry?
Reliance Industries leads Gitnux's 2026 cotton textile ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with revenue growth 7.1% and operating margin 7.2%. Gildan is the highest-ranked apparel producer at 9.1, with revenue growth 10.6%.
What technology shifts show up in 2026 reviews for cotton textile operations?
AI computer-vision research published in 2026 reported 98% defect-detection accuracy for textile systems reviewed. In the same body of evidence, AI-enabled textile inspection was reported with 90% shorter inspection time.
How concentrated is the cotton supply base, and what does that mean for market structure?
Top five production-country share was about 79% of global production in 2025/26. Cotton production was also described as geographically concentrated, with five largest producing countries accounting for about 79% of global production in 2025/26.
What sustainability and traceability requirements are shaping cotton textile compliance?
EU work on Digital Product Passport rules targets textile apparel as a priority for future ecodesign requirements. The revised EU Waste Framework Directive entered into force on October 16, 2025 and introduces extended-producer-responsibility fees adjustable by durability and recyclability.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 11). Cotton Textile Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cotton-textile-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Cotton Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 11 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/cotton-textile-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Cotton Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cotton-textile-industry-statistics.

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