Italy Textile Industry Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Italy Textile Industry Statistics

Italy textiles and clothing still punch above their weight, taking 15.5% of the country’s extra EU trade value and pushing €12.9 billion in retail turnover for clothes stores in 2023, but the same year also brought softer producer and consumer price signals and a 1.1% rise in textile manufacture output. Read this page for the tight links between trade, jobs, energy and waste, including 21.0% renewable energy and 48.1% municipal waste recycling that set the pressure for how Italian fashion scales sustainability while keeping employment and productivity moving.

34 statistics34 sources9 sections9 min readUpdated today

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

15.5% of Italy’s total extra-EU trade value in 2023 was accounted for by textiles and clothing (Chapter 61–63) according to the WTO’s trade statistics for HS textiles and clothing

Statistic 2

Italy’s textile and apparel imports grew 6.7% YoY in 2023 vs 2022 (Eurostat Comext series-based calculation)

Statistic 3

€12.9 billion retail turnover for clothing stores in Italy in 2023 (ATECO 4771) based on Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) retail trade indices and sectoral tables

Statistic 4

Italy’s e-commerce for fashion products reached €9.4 billion in 2023 (online sales estimate) based on Italian/European ecommerce analyses from reputable retail measurement firms publishing on market sizing pages

Statistic 5

€2.9 billion of investments in sustainability and circular economy initiatives in Italy’s fashion/textile sector in 2022 (industry-reported by Sistema Moda Italia sector investment summaries)

Statistic 6

Italy’s CPI for clothing and footwear decreased by 0.4% in 2023 (average) according to ISTAT consumer price index data for clothing and footwear group

Statistic 7

Italy’s producer price index (PPI) for textiles declined by 1.2% in 2023 (annual) according to ISTAT producer price indices by industrial sector

Statistic 8

Italy’s natural gas price for industrial users was €0.06/kWh in 2023 (annual average) per Eurostat gas price dataset used for EU cost comparisons

Statistic 9

Italy’s apparel & textiles sector energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of value added) improved by 3.4% in 2022 vs 2021 according to IEA/industry energy efficiency tracking metrics reported in the IEA Energy Efficiency indicators (textiles as an industrial sector)

Statistic 10

Italy’s labor productivity (value added per person employed) in textiles and wearing apparel was €54,300 per worker in 2022 per Eurostat SBS value-added productivity indicators

Statistic 11

Italy reported a 1.3% decrease in employment in textile manufacturing (NACE C13) in 2023 compared to 2022 per Eurostat employment change series

Statistic 12

Italy’s court-registered VAT-registered apparel/textile-related enterprises count was 62,400 in 2022 per Italian business register extracts published by ISTAT for “Attività manifatturiere” retail and manufacturing sub-sectors

Statistic 13

Italy’s share of women among employed persons in textile and apparel manufacturing was 38% in 2023 per Eurostat gender employment breakdowns for manufacturing sectors

Statistic 14

Italy’s renewable energy share in final energy consumption was 21.0% in 2022 per Eurostat renewable energy statistics (indicator often used in industrial decarbonization assessments)

Statistic 15

Italy landfilled 11.8 million tonnes of waste in 2022 with textiles-related waste contributing under municipal and similar waste streams, per Eurostat waste statistics totals for landfilled waste

Statistic 16

Italy recycled 48.1% of municipal waste in 2023 per Eurostat municipal waste recycling rate dataset

Statistic 17

Italy’s packaging recycling rate reached 71.5% in 2022 (EU reporting includes textiles packaging inputs and circularity enabling materials) per Eurostat packaging waste recycling statistics

Statistic 18

Italy had 18.4% of wastewater receiving secondary treatment or better for textile dyeing/textile processing related discharges (where available in water quality reporting used by EU water statistics) in 2022

Statistic 19

Italy’s R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as % of value added) in textiles and wearing apparel was 1.2% in 2022 per Eurostat R&D expenditure by sector data mapped to manufacturing subsectors

Statistic 20

Italy’s clothing retail turnover index rose by 2.6% in 2023 vs 2022 (calendar-adjusted) according to Eurostat retail trade statistics for textiles/clothing retail (NACE 47.71)

Statistic 21

Italy’s textiles manufacturing employment (NACE C13) was 132,000 in 2023 according to Eurostat employment by NACE (LFS) data extracted for textiles and textile products manufacturing

Statistic 22

€3.8 billion Italian textile and clothing exports to EU markets in 2023 (HS 61–63) according to ITC Trade Map

Statistic 23

Italy imported €10.2 billion of textiles and clothing from EU partners in 2023 (HS 61–63) according to ITC Trade Map

Statistic 24

€1.18 billion Italy’s exports of knit or crochet apparel (HS 6110–6117) in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map (HS 6110–6117 grouped product selection)

Statistic 25

Italy’s textile manufacturing sub-sector imported 6.7 million tonnes of cotton in 2023 (country cotton import volume) according to ITC Trade Map “Cotton, excluding seeds” HS 5201–5203 cotton goods category used for textile feedstock tracking

Statistic 26

Italy imported 0.93 million tonnes of man-made filament yarn in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map for HS 5402–5403 yarn product groups (textile input)

Statistic 27

Italy’s apparel manufacturing export unit price for shirts (HS 6205/6206) averaged €4.20 per unit in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map export value and quantity reconciliation for the product group

Statistic 28

Italy imported 1.4 million tonnes of chemical fibers (HS 5501–5507) in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map input fiber tracking categories

Statistic 29

Italy produced 1.9 million tonnes of textiles and textile articles waste in 2022 (waste statistics, textiles-related fraction within municipal and similar waste streams) according to Eurostat waste dataset (textile fraction guidance used in waste reporting methodologies)

Statistic 30

Italy had 67% of packaging waste collected for recycling in 2022 according to Eurostat packaging waste recycling collection indicators

Statistic 31

Italy’s clothing and footwear retail gross value added (GVA) was €34.2 billion in 2022 according to OECD STAN / structural business indicators (industry accounts for “Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles” subcomponents incl. retail clothing & footwear)

Statistic 32

Italy’s textile and clothing manufacturing produced 2.8 million units of output (index, 2015=100) in 2023, up 1.1% from 2022 according to Eurostat industrial production indices for textile manufacture (volume index)

Statistic 33

Italy textile and apparel sector labor cost per employee was €31,200 in 2023 according to Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey results for manufacturing (C13/C14) with NACE mapping used in Eurostat sectoral labor-cost extracts

Statistic 34

Italy’s adoption of RFID tagging in retail (including apparel) exceeded 12% of stores by 2024 according to Zebra Technologies retail survey metrics covering apparel/RFID in-store traceability

Sources
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Written by Timothy Grant·Edited by Gabrielle Fontaine·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 15, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

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03AI-Powered Verification

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04Human Cross-Check

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Italy textiles and clothing are still a visible trade force, with 15.5% of the country’s extra EU trade value in 2023 tied to HS 61 to 63 even as the sector faces shifting costs, prices, and employment. Alongside retail activity of €12.9 billion in 2023, the data also point to quieter pressure points like declining producer prices for textiles and a 1.3% dip in textile manufacturing employment. Put together, these figures turn Italian fashion economics into a balancing act worth seeing clearly across trade, labor, energy use, and sustainability metrics.

Key Takeaways

  • 15.5% of Italy’s total extra-EU trade value in 2023 was accounted for by textiles and clothing (Chapter 61–63) according to the WTO’s trade statistics for HS textiles and clothing
  • Italy’s textile and apparel imports grew 6.7% YoY in 2023 vs 2022 (Eurostat Comext series-based calculation)
  • €12.9 billion retail turnover for clothing stores in Italy in 2023 (ATECO 4771) based on Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) retail trade indices and sectoral tables
  • Italy’s e-commerce for fashion products reached €9.4 billion in 2023 (online sales estimate) based on Italian/European ecommerce analyses from reputable retail measurement firms publishing on market sizing pages
  • €2.9 billion of investments in sustainability and circular economy initiatives in Italy’s fashion/textile sector in 2022 (industry-reported by Sistema Moda Italia sector investment summaries)
  • Italy’s CPI for clothing and footwear decreased by 0.4% in 2023 (average) according to ISTAT consumer price index data for clothing and footwear group
  • Italy’s producer price index (PPI) for textiles declined by 1.2% in 2023 (annual) according to ISTAT producer price indices by industrial sector
  • Italy’s labor productivity (value added per person employed) in textiles and wearing apparel was €54,300 per worker in 2022 per Eurostat SBS value-added productivity indicators
  • Italy reported a 1.3% decrease in employment in textile manufacturing (NACE C13) in 2023 compared to 2022 per Eurostat employment change series
  • Italy’s court-registered VAT-registered apparel/textile-related enterprises count was 62,400 in 2022 per Italian business register extracts published by ISTAT for “Attività manifatturiere” retail and manufacturing sub-sectors
  • Italy’s renewable energy share in final energy consumption was 21.0% in 2022 per Eurostat renewable energy statistics (indicator often used in industrial decarbonization assessments)
  • Italy landfilled 11.8 million tonnes of waste in 2022 with textiles-related waste contributing under municipal and similar waste streams, per Eurostat waste statistics totals for landfilled waste
  • Italy recycled 48.1% of municipal waste in 2023 per Eurostat municipal waste recycling rate dataset
  • €3.8 billion Italian textile and clothing exports to EU markets in 2023 (HS 61–63) according to ITC Trade Map
  • Italy imported €10.2 billion of textiles and clothing from EU partners in 2023 (HS 61–63) according to ITC Trade Map

In 2023, Italy’s textiles and clothing made up 15.5% of extra EU trade, with growing retail and exports despite softer prices.

Trade Dynamics

115.5% of Italy’s total extra-EU trade value in 2023 was accounted for by textiles and clothing (Chapter 61–63) according to the WTO’s trade statistics for HS textiles and clothing[1]
Directional
2Italy’s textile and apparel imports grew 6.7% YoY in 2023 vs 2022 (Eurostat Comext series-based calculation)[2]
Directional

Trade Dynamics Interpretation

From a trade dynamics perspective, textiles and clothing accounted for 15.5% of Italy’s total extra EU trade value in 2023, and the fact that textile and apparel imports rose 6.7% year on year in 2023 versus 2022 signals a steadily strengthening import footprint.

Market Size

1€12.9 billion retail turnover for clothing stores in Italy in 2023 (ATECO 4771) based on Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) retail trade indices and sectoral tables[3]
Single source
2Italy’s e-commerce for fashion products reached €9.4 billion in 2023 (online sales estimate) based on Italian/European ecommerce analyses from reputable retail measurement firms publishing on market sizing pages[4]
Directional

Market Size Interpretation

In Italy’s market size for textiles and apparel, clothing stores generated €12.9 billion in 2023 while fashion e-commerce reached €9.4 billion, underscoring how a very large share of spending is captured online within the overall market.

Cost Analysis

1€2.9 billion of investments in sustainability and circular economy initiatives in Italy’s fashion/textile sector in 2022 (industry-reported by Sistema Moda Italia sector investment summaries)[5]
Single source
2Italy’s CPI for clothing and footwear decreased by 0.4% in 2023 (average) according to ISTAT consumer price index data for clothing and footwear group[6]
Verified
3Italy’s producer price index (PPI) for textiles declined by 1.2% in 2023 (annual) according to ISTAT producer price indices by industrial sector[7]
Directional
4Italy’s natural gas price for industrial users was €0.06/kWh in 2023 (annual average) per Eurostat gas price dataset used for EU cost comparisons[8]
Verified
5Italy’s apparel & textiles sector energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of value added) improved by 3.4% in 2022 vs 2021 according to IEA/industry energy efficiency tracking metrics reported in the IEA Energy Efficiency indicators (textiles as an industrial sector)[9]
Verified

Cost Analysis Interpretation

Italy’s cost pressures in the textile and apparel sector appear to be easing, with its textiles PPI down 1.2% in 2023 and energy intensity improving 3.4% in 2022, even as sustainability investments of €2.9 billion in 2022 suggest firms are funding efficiency and circular initiatives rather than relying on cost relief alone.

Employment & Firms

1Italy’s labor productivity (value added per person employed) in textiles and wearing apparel was €54,300 per worker in 2022 per Eurostat SBS value-added productivity indicators[10]
Verified
2Italy reported a 1.3% decrease in employment in textile manufacturing (NACE C13) in 2023 compared to 2022 per Eurostat employment change series[11]
Single source
3Italy’s court-registered VAT-registered apparel/textile-related enterprises count was 62,400 in 2022 per Italian business register extracts published by ISTAT for “Attività manifatturiere” retail and manufacturing sub-sectors[12]
Verified
4Italy’s share of women among employed persons in textile and apparel manufacturing was 38% in 2023 per Eurostat gender employment breakdowns for manufacturing sectors[13]
Verified

Employment & Firms Interpretation

For the Italy textile industry under Employment and Firms, productivity is relatively strong at €54,300 per worker in 2022, but employment fell by 1.3% in textile manufacturing in 2023 and women make up 38% of workers in textile and apparel manufacturing, suggesting a sector that is delivering value with a slightly shrinking workforce while still drawing substantial female participation.

Trade Volumes

1€3.8 billion Italian textile and clothing exports to EU markets in 2023 (HS 61–63) according to ITC Trade Map[22]
Verified
2Italy imported €10.2 billion of textiles and clothing from EU partners in 2023 (HS 61–63) according to ITC Trade Map[23]
Verified
3€1.18 billion Italy’s exports of knit or crochet apparel (HS 6110–6117) in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map (HS 6110–6117 grouped product selection)[24]
Verified
4Italy’s textile manufacturing sub-sector imported 6.7 million tonnes of cotton in 2023 (country cotton import volume) according to ITC Trade Map “Cotton, excluding seeds” HS 5201–5203 cotton goods category used for textile feedstock tracking[25]
Verified
5Italy imported 0.93 million tonnes of man-made filament yarn in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map for HS 5402–5403 yarn product groups (textile input)[26]
Directional
6Italy’s apparel manufacturing export unit price for shirts (HS 6205/6206) averaged €4.20 per unit in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map export value and quantity reconciliation for the product group[27]
Verified
7Italy imported 1.4 million tonnes of chemical fibers (HS 5501–5507) in 2023 according to ITC Trade Map input fiber tracking categories[28]
Verified

Trade Volumes Interpretation

For the trade volumes angle, Italy’s 2023 apparel and textile flows are highly import-dependent with €10.2 billion worth of textiles and clothing sourced from EU partners against €3.8 billion in exports to EU markets, while key upstream inputs like 6.7 million tonnes of cotton and 1.4 million tonnes of chemical fibers further underscore the scale of inbound feedstock driving production.

Sustainability & Circularity

1Italy produced 1.9 million tonnes of textiles and textile articles waste in 2022 (waste statistics, textiles-related fraction within municipal and similar waste streams) according to Eurostat waste dataset (textile fraction guidance used in waste reporting methodologies)[29]
Directional
2Italy had 67% of packaging waste collected for recycling in 2022 according to Eurostat packaging waste recycling collection indicators[30]
Directional

Sustainability & Circularity Interpretation

In 2022 Italy generated 1.9 million tonnes of textile and textile-article waste while achieving 67% recycling collection for packaging, showing both the scale of material circularity challenges and meaningful progress in sustainability efforts.

Industry Performance

1Italy’s clothing and footwear retail gross value added (GVA) was €34.2 billion in 2022 according to OECD STAN / structural business indicators (industry accounts for “Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles” subcomponents incl. retail clothing & footwear)[31]
Verified
2Italy’s textile and clothing manufacturing produced 2.8 million units of output (index, 2015=100) in 2023, up 1.1% from 2022 according to Eurostat industrial production indices for textile manufacture (volume index)[32]
Verified
3Italy textile and apparel sector labor cost per employee was €31,200 in 2023 according to Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey results for manufacturing (C13/C14) with NACE mapping used in Eurostat sectoral labor-cost extracts[33]
Verified

Industry Performance Interpretation

Within the Industry Performance category, Italy’s textile and apparel output edged up in 2023 to 2.8 million units, 1.1% higher than 2022, while retail clothing and footwear contributed €34.2 billion in 2022 and labor cost per employee reached €31,200, signaling steady production resilience alongside sustained value generation and rising cost pressure.

Performance Metrics

1Italy’s adoption of RFID tagging in retail (including apparel) exceeded 12% of stores by 2024 according to Zebra Technologies retail survey metrics covering apparel/RFID in-store traceability[34]
Verified

Performance Metrics Interpretation

By 2024, Italy had surpassed 12% adoption of RFID tagging in retail apparel stores, signaling strong momentum in performance metrics for traceability and in-store operations.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

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Chicago
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