Gitnux/Report 2026

Knitting Industry Statistics

China produced 12.5 million tons of knitted fabrics in 2022 (35% of the world). Explore the stats shaping the knitting industry.
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July 12, 2026Updated
Knitting Industry Statistics
Christopher MorganWritten by Christopher Morgan·Edited by Katherine Brennan·Fact-checked by Rebecca Hargrove
Published ·Updated
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Knitting industry trends are being driven by consumer choices and where production happens. In the U.S., demand for organic cotton knits rose 18% in 2023, while online pattern sales grew 25% year over year to $450 million globally. At the same time, global employment reached 12.5 million workers in 2023, highlighting how demand connects to labor and machinery investment worldwide.

Key Takeaways

  • 42% of consumers prefer sustainable knitted apparel, up from 32% in 2022
  • Online knitting pattern sales grew 25% YoY to $450 million globally in 2023
  • 65% of millennials engage in DIY knitting as a hobby in 2023 surveys
  • Global employment in knitting industry stood at 12.5 million workers in 2023
  • China's knitting sector employed 4.2 million people in 2023
  • Bangladesh knitwear factories had 4.1 million workers, 60% women, in FY2023
  • The global knitting machinery market size was valued at USD 5.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2030
  • In 2023, the U.S. knitting mills industry generated approximately $4.5 billion in revenue, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year
  • Asia-Pacific dominated the knitting machinery market with a 45% share in 2022, driven by high textile production in China and India
  • China produced 12.5 million tons of knitted fabrics in 2022, accounting for 35% of global production
  • The U.S. knitting mills produced 450 million square meters of fabric in 2023
  • India's knitting sector manufactured 8.2 billion knitted garments in FY2023
  • U.S. global knitting exports totaled $2.8 billion in 2023
  • China's knitting exports reached $150 billion in 2023, 40% of world total
  • Bangladesh knitwear exports grew 10.2% to $45 billion in FY2023

Sustainable knit demand is surging online, while major producers employ millions and expand production worldwide.

Related reading

02 · Category

Employment And Workforce26 stats

01
Global employment in knitting industry stood at 12.5 million workers in 2023
02
China's knitting sector employed 4.2 million people in 2023
03
Bangladesh knitwear factories had 4.1 million workers, 60% women, in FY2023
04
India's knitting industry workforce totaled 2.8 million in FY2023
05
Turkey's knitting mills employed 650,000 workers in 2023
06
Vietnam's knitting sector jobs reached 2.5 million in 2023
07
U.S. knitting mills had 45,000 employees in 2023, down 1.2% YoY
08
Italy's knitting workforce was 120,000 skilled artisans in 2023
09
Pakistan employed 1.9 million in knitwear production in 2023
10
Indonesia's knitting industry jobs hit 1.7 million in 2023
11
Average wage in global knitting sector was $450/month in 2023
12
Egypt's knitting factories employed 450,000 workers in 2023
13
U.K. knitting employment totaled 25,000 in 2023
14
Brazil's knitting workforce was 350,000 in 2023
15
South Korea had 180,000 knitting machine operators in 2023
16
35% of global knitting workers were under 25 years old in 2023
17
Germany's knitting sector employed 80,000, with 40% trained apprentices
18
Cambodia knitting jobs reached 700,000 in 2023, 55% female
19
Portugal's knitting employment was 65,000 in 2023
20
Sri Lanka employed 350,000 in knitting in 2023
21
Average training hours for knitting workers globally: 120 hours/year in 2023
22
Morocco's knitting workforce totaled 220,000 in 2023
23
Tunisia had 190,000 knitting employees in 2023
24
Peru employed 45,000 in specialized alpaca knitting in 2023
25
Turnover rate in knitting industry averaged 18% globally in 2023
26
28% of U.S. knitting workers were part-time in 2023
Interpretation

Employment And Workforce Interpretation

In 2023 the global knitting industry employed about 12.5 million workers, with major hubs like China at 4.2 million and Bangladesh knitwear factories at 4.1 million showing how workforce concentration is shaping employment across countries, while Bangladesh’s 60% female employment underscores the gendered nature of the knitting labor force.

03 · Category

Market Size And Growth30 stats

01
The global knitting machinery market size was valued at USD 5.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2030
02
In 2023, the U.S. knitting mills industry generated approximately $4.5 billion in revenue, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year
03
Asia-Pacific dominated the knitting machinery market with a 45% share in 2022, driven by high textile production in China and India
04
The European knitting industry market reached €12.3 billion in 2023, with a forecasted CAGR of 3.5% through 2028
05
China's knitting product output hit 45.6 billion pieces in 2022, contributing to a domestic market value of RMB 1.2 trillion
06
The flat knitting machine segment accounted for 52% of the global knitting machinery market revenue in 2023
07
India's knitted apparel market was valued at USD 15.8 billion in FY2023, expected to reach USD 25 billion by FY2028 at 9.6% CAGR
08
The global hand knitting yarn market size was USD 6.7 billion in 2023, projected to grow to USD 9.8 billion by 2032 at 4.3% CAGR
09
Turkey's knitting sector revenue grew by 11.2% in 2023 to reach $8.9 billion
10
The computerized knitting machine market expanded to $3.1 billion globally in 2023, with a 5.2% CAGR forecast to 2030
11
Bangladesh's knitwear exports contributed $18.5 billion to the economy in FY2023, representing 45% of total apparel exports
12
The U.K. knitting yarn market size stood at £450 million in 2023, growing at 3.8% annually
13
Vietnam's knitting industry output reached 1.2 billion garments in 2023, valuing the market at $12.4 billion
14
The seamless knitting technology market was worth $1.8 billion in 2022, projected to hit $2.9 billion by 2030 at 6.1% CAGR
15
Italy's luxury knitting sector generated €2.1 billion in 2023, with 4.2% growth driven by high-end fashion
16
The global circular knitting machine market size was $2.4 billion in 2023, expected to grow at 4.9% CAGR to 2031
17
Pakistan's knitwear industry revenue hit PKR 1.05 trillion in 2023, up 12% YoY
18
The U.S. hand-knitted products market reached $1.2 billion in 2023, with online sales surging 15%
19
Japan's knitting machinery market was valued at ¥250 billion in FY2023, contracting slightly by 1.2%
20
The organic knitting yarn segment grew to $850 million globally in 2023 at 7.5% CAGR
21
Egypt's knitting exports totaled $1.8 billion in 2023, boosting the local market to $3.2 billion
22
The 3D knitting machine market emerged at $450 million in 2023, forecasted 8.2% CAGR to 2030
23
Australia's knitting supplies market size was AUD 320 million in 2023, up 5.1%
24
South Korea's smart knitting tech market hit KRW 1.2 trillion in 2023, growing 6.3%
25
The global knitting needles market reached $1.1 billion in 2023, with plastic segment at 38% share
26
Indonesia's knitting garment production was 850 million units in 2023, market value $9.5 billion
27
The U.K. machine knitting sector contributed £1.8 billion to GDP in 2023
28
Brazil's knitting industry revenue climbed to BRL 15 billion in 2023, +8.4% growth
29
The digital knitting design software market was $650 million in 2023, 7.1% CAGR projected
30
Global home knitting kit sales hit $2.3 billion in 2023 amid pandemic recovery
Interpretation

Market Size And Growth Interpretation

The knitting market is expanding steadily, with the global knitting machinery market reaching USD 5.2 billion in 2022 and projected to grow at a 4.8% CAGR through 2030, while flat knitting machines alone generated 52% of 2023 revenue.

More related reading

04 · Category

Production Statistics26 stats

01
China produced 12.5 million tons of knitted fabrics in 2022, accounting for 35% of global production
02
The U.S. knitting mills produced 450 million square meters of fabric in 2023
03
India's knitting sector manufactured 8.2 billion knitted garments in FY2023
04
Turkey's knitting factories output 2.1 billion pieces of apparel annually as of 2023
05
Bangladesh knitwear production reached 1.8 billion pieces in FY2023
06
Vietnam produced 1.5 billion knitted items in 2023, with 70% for export
07
Italy's knitting mills generated 750 million meters of jersey fabric in 2023
08
Pakistan's knitting industry output was 1.2 billion kg of yarn-based knits in 2023
09
The global average production capacity utilization in knitting mills was 78% in 2023
10
South Korea's automated knitting lines produced 450 million seamless garments in 2023
11
Egypt knitted 650 million t-shirts and polo shirts in 2023
12
Indonesia's knitting factories output 950 million units of sportswear in 2023
13
U.K. domestic knitting production totaled 120 million pieces in 2023
14
Brazil produced 550 million knitted socks and hosiery items in 2023
15
Japan's knitting sector output declined to 250 million garments in FY2023
16
Global circular knitting machines produced 65% of all knitted fabrics in 2023
17
Australia manufactured 45 million knitted babywear items in 2023
18
Germany's high-tech knitting produced 300 million technical textiles in 2023
19
Cambodia's knitting output surged to 400 million garments in 2023
20
Portugal's knitting mills made 180 million swimwear pieces in 2023
21
Sri Lanka produced 350 million knitted apparel units in 2023
22
Morocco's knitting sector output was 280 million casual wear items in 2023
23
Tunisia knitted 220 million basic t-shirts in 2023
24
Peru's alpaca knitting production reached 15 million items in 2023
25
The world produced 28 billion kg of knitted fabrics in 2023
26
U.S. knitting mills' fabric production efficiency improved to 92% in 2023
Interpretation

Production Statistics Interpretation

Production of knitted goods is heavily concentrated in Asia, with China alone making 12.5 million tons of knitted fabrics in 2022 and several other major producers like India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam collectively turning out billions of garments and items each year.

05 · Category

Trade And Exports25 stats

01
U.S. global knitting exports totaled $2.8 billion in 2023
02
China's knitting exports reached $150 billion in 2023, 40% of world total
03
Bangladesh knitwear exports grew 10.2% to $45 billion in FY2023
04
EU imported $85 billion in knitted apparel from Asia in 2023
05
Turkey exported $18.2 billion in knits to EU and U.S. in 2023
06
Vietnam's knitting exports hit $44 billion in 2023, +15% YoY
07
India exported 1.2 billion knitted garments worth $12.5 billion in FY2023
08
Pakistan knitwear exports totaled $5.8 billion in 2023
09
Italy's high-end knit exports: €4.2 billion in 2023
10
U.S. imported $25 billion in knitted goods, mainly from China, in 2023
11
Indonesia exported $13.4 billion in knits, 85% to U.S./EU, 2023
12
Cambodia knit exports reached $10.2 billion in 2023
13
Portugal exported €3.8 billion in technical knits in 2023
14
Sri Lanka's knit exports: $5.1 billion, down 2% in 2023
15
Egypt exported $3.5 billion in knits to EU in 2023
16
Global knitting trade volume: 15.2 million tons in 2023
17
Morocco's knit exports to Spain/France: $2.9 billion in 2023
18
Tunisia exported 1.1 billion knitted items worth $2.2 billion in 2023
19
Peru's alpaca knit exports: $450 million in 2023
20
Brazil exported $1.8 billion in knitted beachwear in 2023
21
South Korea knit exports to U.S.: $4.5 billion in 2023
22
U.K. knitting imports from Asia: £6.2 billion in 2023
23
Japan exported ¥1.2 trillion in technical knits in FY2023
24
Australia imported 95% of knits, $2.1 billion total in 2023
25
Germany's knitting machinery exports: €2.9 billion in 2023
Interpretation

Trade And Exports Interpretation

For the Trade And Exports segment, global knitting is dominated by large exporters with China leading at $150 billion in 2023 and accounting for 40% of the world total while countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh are still pushing growth, with Vietnam reaching $44 billion in 2023 (+15% YoY) and Bangladesh knitwear exports rising 10.2% to $45 billion in FY2023.
report visual · Breakdown

Knitting preferences: sustainable vs. DIY

Survey-based shares highlight strong consumer momentum for sustainable knitted apparel alongside high DIY engagement.

65%
65% of millennials engage in DIY knitting as a hobby in 2023 surveys
35%
35% rise in men's knitted sweater demand in 2023
Reference

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APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Knitting Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/knitting-industry-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Knitting Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/knitting-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Knitting Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/knitting-industry-statistics.

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