Despite a 3.1% decline in apparel manufacturing and a complex environmental footprint, the EU's textile industry, a sector of immense regional contrasts and a €162 billion turnover, showed surprising resilience in 2022 with export growth, rising nonwovens production, and increasing investments in circularity.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the EU-27 textile and clothing industry produced 5.2 million tonnes of textiles, representing a 2.5% decrease from 2021
- EU textile fibre consumption reached 10.8 million tonnes in 2022, with cotton accounting for 38% of total fibres used
- Italy led EU textile production with 1.8 million tonnes in 2022, followed by Germany at 0.9 million tonnes
- EU textile employment stood at 1.5 million jobs in 2022, a 1.2% decline from 2021
- Italy employed 380,000 in textiles and clothing in 2022
- EU textile sector female workforce participation was 75% in 2022
- EU textile exports totalled €47.5 billion in 2022, up 8.2% from 2021
- EU clothing imports from Asia reached €85 billion in 2022
- Italy's textile exports were €12.3 billion in 2022
- EU textile industry generated €162 billion turnover in 2022, down 2% from 2021
- Italy's textile sector turnover was €52 billion in 2022
- EU clothing market value reached €190 billion in 2022
- EU textile waste generated 5.8 million tonnes in 2022
- EU recycled textiles rate was 12% in 2022, up from 9% in 2020
- Italy's textile water usage averaged 100 litres per kg of fabric in 2022
In 2022, the EU textile industry faced mixed trends of slight output declines alongside trade and sustainability gains.
Economic Impact Statistics
1EU textile industry generated €162 billion turnover in 2022, down 2% from 2021
Verified2Italy's textile sector turnover was €52 billion in 2022
Verified3EU clothing market value reached €190 billion in 2022
Verified4Germany textile industry added €25 billion to GDP in 2022
Directional5Portugal's textile turnover grew 5% to €8.5 billion in 2022
Single source6EU technical textiles market was €45 billion in 2022
Verified7Spain's clothing sector revenue was €14 billion in 2022
Verified8France textile turnover €28 billion in 2022
Verified9Romania's industry value added €6.2 billion in 2022
Directional10EU home textiles market €22 billion in 2022
Single source11Poland textile turnover €12 billion in 2022
Verified12Bulgaria's sector contributed 2.5% to national GDP in 2022
Verified13Lithuania turnover €3.8 billion in 2022
Verified14Latvia's textile GDP contribution 1.8% in 2022
Directional15EU R&D investment in textiles €2.8 billion in 2022
Single source16Slovakia turnover €2.7 billion in 2022
Verified17Hungary's textile revenue €4.5 billion in 2022
Verified18Croatia contributed €1.2 billion turnover in 2022
Verified19Estonia's sector turnover €1.1 billion in 2022
Directional20Czech Republic €7.9 billion textile turnover in 2022
Single source21EU textile investment €4.2 billion in 2022
VerifiedEconomic Impact Statistics Interpretation
While the EU's €162 billion textile tapestry saw a slight 2% fray at the edges in 2022, the vibrant and resilient patchwork of national industries—from Italy's €52 billion powerhouse to Portugal's spirited 5% growth—proves the sector remains tightly woven into the continent's economic and innovative fabric.
Employment Statistics
1EU textile employment stood at 1.5 million jobs in 2022, a 1.2% decline from 2021
Verified2Italy employed 380,000 in textiles and clothing in 2022
Verified3EU textile sector female workforce participation was 75% in 2022
Verified4Romania had 200,000 textile jobs in 2022, up 3%
Directional5Germany employed 140,000 in textiles in 2022
Single source6Portugal's textile employment was 130,000 in 2022
Verified7EU apparel sector jobs numbered 900,000 in 2022, down 2%
Verified8Spain had 85,000 textile workers in 2022
Verified9France employed 95,000 in textiles in 2022
Directional10Bulgaria's textile employment grew to 55,000 in 2022
Single source11Greece had 70,000 jobs in textiles in 2022
Verified12Poland employed 220,000 in textiles in 2022
Verified13Lithuania's textile workforce was 45,000 in 2022
Verified14Latvia employed 20,000 in textiles in 2022
Directional15EU technical textiles employed 420,000 in 2022
Single source16Slovakia had 25,000 textile jobs in 2022
Verified17Hungary employed 35,000 in textiles in 2022
Verified18Croatia's textile employment was 18,000 in 2022
Verified19Estonia had 12,000 textile workers in 2022
Directional20EU textile R&D staff numbered 50,000 in 2022
Single source21Czech Republic employed 60,000 in textiles in 2022
Verified22Denmark's textile jobs were 15,000 in 2022
Verified23Netherlands had 25,000 textile employees in 2022
Verified24Belgium employed 20,000 in textiles in 2022
DirectionalEmployment Statistics Interpretation
Despite a slight overall dip, Europe’s textile sector remains a formidable, female-dominated tapestry, where the threads of decline in some nations are vigorously woven together by growth in others, proving the industry is more than just hanging by a thread.
Production Statistics
1In 2022, the EU-27 textile and clothing industry produced 5.2 million tonnes of textiles, representing a 2.5% decrease from 2021
Verified2EU textile fibre consumption reached 10.8 million tonnes in 2022, with cotton accounting for 38% of total fibres used
Verified3Italy led EU textile production with 1.8 million tonnes in 2022, followed by Germany at 0.9 million tonnes
Verified4The EU knitting sector produced 1.2 million tonnes of knitted fabrics in 2021, down 4% from pre-pandemic levels
Directional5EU woven fabric production totalled 2.1 million tonnes in 2022, with synthetic fibres comprising 45%
Single source6Romania's textile industry output grew by 7% in 2022 to 0.6 million tonnes, driven by apparel manufacturing
Verified7EU nonwovens production hit 2.5 million tonnes in 2022, up 5% year-on-year
Verified8Portugal's textile sector produced 0.4 million tonnes of yarns and fabrics in 2022
Verified9EU technical textiles production accounted for 28% of total textile output in 2022 at 1.46 million tonnes
Directional10Spain generated 0.3 million tonnes of textile products in 2022, focusing on home textiles
Single source11France's textile production volume was 0.25 million tonnes in 2022, with emphasis on luxury fabrics
Verified12EU apparel manufacturing output declined 3.1% in 2022 to 3.8 million tonnes
Verified13Greece produced 0.15 million tonnes of textiles in 2022, mainly knitwear
Verified14EU man-made fibre production reached 3.2 million tonnes in 2022
Directional15Bulgaria's textile output increased 6% to 0.2 million tonnes in 2022
Single source16EU home textile production was 0.9 million tonnes in 2022
Verified17Latvia's textile industry produced 0.08 million tonnes in 2022
Verified18EU leather and allied products output was 0.7 million tonnes in 2022
Verified19Lithuania produced 0.12 million tonnes of textiles in 2022
Directional20EU felt and nonwovens output grew to 1.1 million tonnes in 2022
Single source21Estonia's textile production was 0.05 million tonnes in 2022
Verified22EU textile machinery production value reached €2.5 billion in 2022
Verified23Croatia produced 0.07 million tonnes of textiles in 2022
Verified24EU carpet and rug production totalled 0.4 million tonnes in 2022
Directional25Slovakia's textile output was 0.1 million tonnes in 2022
Single source26EU rope and cordage production was 0.3 million tonnes in 2022
Verified27Hungary produced 0.11 million tonnes of textiles in 2022
Verified28EU lace production volume was 0.02 million tonnes in 2022
Verified29Poland's textile production reached 0.5 million tonnes in 2022
DirectionalProduction Statistics Interpretation
While Europe's textile output slightly frayed at the edges in 2022, it revealed a resilient and diversely woven fabric, with Italy firmly stitching together its leadership, technical textiles threading strong growth, and Eastern Europe’s apparel manufacturing adding a vibrant new pattern to the industry's tapestry.
Sustainability Statistics
1EU textile waste generated 5.8 million tonnes in 2022
Verified2EU recycled textiles rate was 12% in 2022, up from 9% in 2020
Verified3Italy's textile water usage averaged 100 litres per kg of fabric in 2022
Verified4EU chemical dye consumption in textiles 1.2 million tonnes in 2022
Directional545% of EU textile firms adopted circular economy practices by 2022
Single source6EU CO2 emissions from textile production 250 million tonnes equivalent in 2022
Verified7Portugal recycled 25% of textile waste in 2022
Verified830% of EU cotton use was sustainable certified in 2022
Verified9Spain's textile energy consumption 15 TWh in 2022
Directional10France reduced textile water pollution by 18% from 2018-2022
Single source11Romania's EU ETS emissions for textiles down 5% in 2022
Verified12EU organic textile fibres use grew 12% to 0.8 million tonnes in 2022
Verified13Poland recycled 15% of textiles in 2022
Verified1422% EU apparel brands committed to net-zero by 2050 in 2022 survey
Directional15Bulgaria's textile waste landfill rate 60% in 2022
Single source16Lithuania used 40% recycled polyester in 2022
Verified17EU microfibre pollution from textiles 0.5 million tonnes annually in 2022
Verified18Latvia's sustainable fibre adoption 28% in 2022
Verified1965% EU textile SMEs invested in green tech in 2022
Directional20Slovakia reduced energy use per kg textile by 10% 2017-2022
Single source21Hungary's recycled content in textiles 18% in 2022
Verified22Croatia's textile carbon footprint 1.2 tonnes CO2 per worker in 2022
Verified23Estonia adopted GOTS certification for 15% production in 2022
VerifiedSustainability Statistics Interpretation
While we see hopeful sprouts like rising recycling rates and green tech investments, the sobering reality is that Europe's textile industry remains a thirsty, carbon-intensive behemoth, producing a mountain of waste where every thread pulled reveals a tangled web of progress and pollution.
Trade Statistics
1EU textile exports totalled €47.5 billion in 2022, up 8.2% from 2021
Verified2EU clothing imports from Asia reached €85 billion in 2022
Verified3Italy's textile exports were €12.3 billion in 2022
Verified4EU textile trade surplus with non-EU countries was €2.1 billion in 2022
Directional5Germany's textile imports totalled €18.4 billion in 2022
Single source6Portugal exported €3.2 billion in textiles in 2022
Verified7EU imports from Bangladesh were €13.5 billion in clothing in 2022
Verified8Spain's clothing exports reached €2.8 billion in 2022
Verified9France imported €15.2 billion in textiles in 2022
Directional10Romania's textile exports grew 10% to €4.1 billion in 2022
Single source11EU exports to USA were €6.7 billion in textiles in 2022
Verified12Poland exported €2.9 billion in apparel in 2022
Verified13Greece's textile imports were €1.2 billion in 2022
Verified14Bulgaria exported €1.8 billion in clothing in 2022
Directional15Lithuania's exports totalled €1.5 billion in 2022
Single source16Latvia exported €0.8 billion in textiles in 2022
Verified17EU-China textile trade deficit was €32 billion in 2022
Verified18Slovakia's clothing exports were €1.1 billion in 2022
Verified19Hungary imported €2.3 billion in textiles in 2022
Directional20Croatia exported €0.6 billion in apparel in 2022
Single source21Estonia's textile trade balance was negative €0.4 billion in 2022
Verified22Czech Republic exported €3.5 billion in textiles in 2022
Verified23Netherlands' textile imports were €10.5 billion in 2022
Verified24EU recycled textile imports grew 15% to €1.2 billion in 2022
DirectionalTrade Statistics Interpretation
While the EU's textile industry exports high-value craftsmanship, its massive and growing appetite for Asian imports reveals a delicate, somewhat threadbare fabric of trade, where maintaining a slender surplus depends on balancing luxury yarns with fast-fashion's powerful pull.
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