The German textile industry generated €34.5 billion in turnover last year. This financial strength coexists with a persistent trade deficit and an aging workforce.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the German textile industry employed 128,000 people
- Textile industry turnover reached €34.5 billion in 2022
- Mergers and acquisitions value €900 million 2022, category: Financial and Market Data
- In 2022, the German textile industry produced 1.2 million tons of textile fibers
- Geotextiles output 45,000 tons in 2023, category: Production and Manufacturing
- 75% of German textile firms use recycled materials in 2023
- Textile exports to EU €10.2 billion in 2022
Germany’s textile industry shows steady growth, driven by strong demand and steady production across key categories.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Workforce25 stats
01
In 2022, the German textile industry employed 128,000 people
02
Average salary in textile manufacturing was €45,200 annually in 2023
03
42% of textile workers in Germany are women as of 2022
04
Number of apprentices in textiles reached 12,500 in 2023
05
Unemployment rate in textile sector was 4.2% in 2022
06
Part-time employment in textiles 28% of workforce in 2023
07
Skilled labor shortage affected 65% of textile firms in 2022
08
Average age of textile workers 47 years in 2023
09
Vocational training programs in textiles: 250 courses annually
10
Foreign workers comprise 18% of textile employment in 2022
11
Overtime hours in textile industry averaged 150 hours per worker in 2023
12
Turnover rate in textiles 9.5% in 2022
13
Investment in employee training €250 million in 2023
14
Digital skills gap in 55% of textile companies in 2022
15
Women in management positions 32% in 2023
16
Youth employment under 25: 15% in textiles 2022
17
Remote work adoption 12% in textile sector 2023
18
Union membership 35% among textile workers 2022
19
Sick leave days averaged 11 per worker in 2023
20
Shift work prevalence 62% in manufacturing textiles 2022
21
Diversity training programs in 70% of firms 2023
22
Wage increase 3.8% in textiles 2022-2023
23
Migrant integration programs for 5,000 workers 2023
24
Ergonomic improvements reduced injuries by 20% in 2022
25
Flexible working hours in 48% of companies 2023
Interpretation
Employment And Workforce Interpretation
In Germany’s textile industry, workforce patterns show a strong balance of participation and employment health, with 128,000 people employed in 2022, women making up 42% of workers, part time work rising to 28% in 2023, and an unemployment rate of just 4.2% in 2022.
02 · Category
Financial And Market Data19 stats
01
Textile industry turnover reached €34.5 billion in 2022
02
Profit margin in German textiles averaged 4.2% in 2023
03
R&D investment €1.2 billion in 2022
04
Market share of technical textiles 35% of total in 2023
05
Export revenue €15.8 billion for textiles in 2022
06
Investment volume €2.5 billion in new plants 2023
07
EBITDA for top 50 firms €1.8 billion in 2022
08
Cost of raw materials 55% of total costs in 2023
09
Energy costs rose 25% affecting margins in 2022
10
Digitalization spending €450 million in 2023
11
Market growth rate 2.1% annually 2022-2023
12
Home textiles segment €4.2 billion in 2022
13
Apparel retail turnover €18.5 billion influenced by textiles 2023
14
Bankruptcy rate 3.2% in textile firms 2022
15
Venture capital in textile startups €150 million 2023
16
Price index for textiles up 8% in 2022
17
Supply chain costs 28% of revenue 2023
18
Cash flow positive in 78% of firms 2023
19
Debt ratio average 45% in 2022
Interpretation
Financial And Market Data Interpretation
Germany’s textile sector is generating steady financial scale while increasingly leaning toward higher-value markets, with turnover at €34.5 billion in 2022 and technical textiles making up 35% of the 2023 total alongside a modest 4.2% average profit margin.
03 · Category
Financial And Market Data, Source Url: Https://www.pwc.de/textil M A/1 stats
01
Mergers and acquisitions value €900 million 2022, category: Financial and Market Data
Interpretation
Financial And Market Data, Source Url: Https://www.pwc.de/textil M A/ Interpretation
In 2022, Germany’s textile industry saw €900 million in mergers and acquisitions, highlighting a strong level of financial deal activity within this Financial and Market Data lens.
04 · Category
Production And Manufacturing28 stats
01
In 2022, the German textile industry produced 1.2 million tons of textile fibers
02
The number of textile manufacturing companies in Germany stood at 1,450 in 2023
03
Capacity utilization in the German spinning sector reached 78% in 2022
04
Germany manufactured 450,000 tons of woven fabrics in 2021
05
The knitting industry in Germany output 320,000 tons of knitted fabrics in 2022
06
Nonwovens production in Germany totaled 650,000 tons in 2023
07
Technical textiles production value was €12.5 billion in 2022
08
Cotton yarn production in Germany was 45,000 tons in 2021
09
Synthetic fiber production reached 280,000 tons in 2022
10
Finishing and dyeing processes handled 900,000 tons of textiles in 2023
11
Home textiles manufacturing output was €3.2 billion in 2022
12
Apparel production volume in Germany was 150 million pieces in 2021
13
Carpet and rug production totaled 25 million square meters in 2022
14
Leather processing for textiles output 120,000 tons in 2023
15
Machine-made lace production was 8,000 tons in 2022
16
Felt production volume reached 50,000 tons in 2021
17
Textile recycling output was 180,000 tons in 2023
18
Automotive textiles production for Germany was 450 million euros in 2022
19
Medical textiles output volume 120,000 tons in 2023
20
Filter textiles production 95,000 tons in 2022
21
Protective clothing production 2.5 million units in 2023
22
Sport textiles manufacturing €1.8 billion in 2022
23
Curtain and drapery production 15 million meters in 2021
24
Bed linen output 12 million sets in 2022
25
Towel production 8 million pieces in 2023
26
Upholstery fabrics 250 million meters in 2022
27
Sailcloth production 5,000 tons in 2021
28
Agrotextiles production €450 million in 2022
Interpretation
Production And Manufacturing Interpretation
In the Production and Manufacturing segment, German textile production and capacity expansion are evident, with 1.2 million tons of textile fibers in 2022 and spinning capacity utilization hitting 78% that year.
More related reading
05 · Category
Production And Manufacturing, Source Url: Https://www.edana.org/europe/nonwovens/1 stats
01
Geotextiles output 45,000 tons in 2023, category: Production and Manufacturing
Interpretation
Production And Manufacturing, Source Url: Https://www.edana.org/europe/nonwovens/ Interpretation
In Germany’s production and manufacturing of nonwovens, geotextiles reached 45,000 tons in 2023, highlighting steady output within this category.
06 · Category
Sustainability, Innovation, And Trends24 stats
01
75% of German textile firms use recycled materials in 2023
02
CO2 emissions reduced by 18% since 2015 to 2.1 million tons in 2022
03
Water usage per ton of textile down 30% to 120 m³ in 2023
04
40% energy from renewables in textile production 2022
05
Biodegradable fibers 15% of production in 2023
06
Zero-waste initiatives in 55% of companies 2022
07
Circular economy investment €500 million 2023
08
Microplastic reduction tech adopted by 60% firms 2022
09
Organic cotton usage up 22% to 25,000 tons 2023
10
GOTS certified production 12% of total 2022
11
Digital printing reduced waste by 40% in 2023
12
AI optimization in supply chain 35% adoption 2022
13
Smart textiles market €2.1 billion projected 2025
14
3D knitting tech in 20% of factories 2023
15
Blockchain traceability 28% of exports 2022
16
Nanotech coatings for durability up 15% 2023
17
Recycling rate for post-consumer textiles 42% in 2022
18
Patent filings in textiles 1,250 annually 2023
19
Automation robots 5,000 units in industry 2022
20
Lab-grown fibers pilot production 2,000 tons 2023
21
Carbon footprint labeling mandatory from 2024, 90% prepared 2023
22
Consumer demand for sustainable 68% in 2022
23
EU Green Deal compliance 75% firms 2023
24
Waste reduction 25% via lean methods 2022
Interpretation
Sustainability, Innovation, And Trends Interpretation
German textile firms are rapidly scaling sustainability through innovation, with 75% using recycled materials in 2023 and measurable footprint cuts like a 30% drop in water use per ton to 120 m³ in 2023 plus an 18% CO2 reduction since 2015 to 2.1 million tons in 2022.
07 · Category
Trade, Export, Import21 stats
01
Textile exports to EU €10.2 billion in 2022
02
Imports of textile raw materials €22.5 billion in 2023
03
Clothing exports from Germany €5.8 billion in 2022
04
Top export market USA €1.9 billion textiles 2023
05
Import from China €12.4 billion in 2022
06
Trade balance deficit €6.7 billion for textiles 2023
07
Technical textiles exports grew 5.2% to €6.3 billion 2022
08
Bangladesh imports €2.1 billion apparel 2023
09
Turkey textile trade partner €3.5 billion 2022
10
Vietnam imports rose 15% to €1.2 billion 2023
11
Export growth to Switzerland 4% €800 million 2022
12
India textile imports €1.8 billion in 2023
13
Netherlands as top EU export €2.4 billion 2022
14
Pakistan imports cotton yarns €450 million 2023
15
France clothing imports from DE €1.1 billion 2022
16
Duty-free exports under EU 85% of total 2023
17
Logistics costs for exports €1.2 billion 2022
18
E-commerce textile trade €3.5 billion 2023
19
UK post-Brexit exports down 8% €700 million 2022
20
Poland intra-EU imports €900 million 2023
21
Sustainable certified exports 25% of total 2022
Interpretation
Trade, Export, Import Interpretation
Germany’s textile trade is heavily import-led, with textile raw material imports reaching €22.5 billion in 2023 and a resulting €6.7 billion trade balance deficit, even though exports to the EU totaled €10.2 billion in 2022 and clothing exports were €5.8 billion in 2022.
report visual · Key figures
Germany Textile Workforce Snapshot (2022–2023)
Key labor and working-condition indicators highlight workforce composition, employment structure, and sector unemployment.
128,000
In 2022, the German textile industry employed 128,000 people
42%
42% of textile workers in Germany are women as of 2022
28%
Part-time employment in textiles 28% of workforce in 2023
4.2%
Unemployment rate in textile sector was 4.2% in 2022
€3.2 billion
Home textiles manufacturing output was €3.2 billion in 2022
11
Sick leave days averaged 11 per worker in 2023
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
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Germany Textile Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-textile-industry-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Germany Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/germany-textile-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Germany Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-textile-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
42 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level