Mexico’s textile and apparel industry is moving fast, with exports hitting 2025 highs that reshape how buyers look at supply in North America. At the same time, cost pressures and production shifts are changing where value concentrates across mills, trims, and finished garments. The result is a dataset where growth and friction show up side by side, and the details matter for anyone tracking what is happening next.
Key Takeaways
- Mexico's textile industry employed 850,000 direct workers in 2022, with 55% women
- Mexico exported $8.5 billion in textiles and apparel to the US in 2022
- Mexico imported $4.2 billion in textile machinery from Asia in 2022
- FDI in Mexican textiles reached $1.2 billion in 2022 from US firms
- In 2022, Mexico's textile industry produced 1.2 million tons of cotton yarn, representing 12% of Latin America's total production
Mexico’s textile industry shows steady growth, driven by rising production and strong export performance.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment29 stats
01
Mexico's textile industry employed 850,000 direct workers in 2022, with 55% women
02
Average monthly wage in textile manufacturing was MXN 8,500 in 2023
03
45% of textile jobs are in apparel subsector as of 2022
04
Puebla employs 120,000 in textiles, 14% of national total in 2021
05
Youth under 25 comprise 28% of textile workforce in 2023
06
Unionized workers in textiles number 150,000, or 18% in 2022
07
Turnover rate in textile factories was 22% annually in 2021
08
320,000 jobs in garment maquiladoras across northern border in 2023
09
Training programs reached 50,000 workers via CANAIVE in 2022
10
Female supervisors in textiles increased to 15% in 2023 from 10% in 2020
11
Informal employment in textiles is 12% of total workforce in 2022
12
Average workweek in textiles is 48 hours, with overtime at 10% in 2021
13
Guanajuato state has 95,000 textile jobs, focusing on denim in 2023
14
Productivity per worker rose 4.2% to $15,000 annual in 2022
15
Migrant workers from Central America fill 8% of textile positions in 2023
16
Safety training covered 70% of workforce in 2022, reducing accidents by 15%
17
Engineers and technicians in textiles number 25,000 in 2021
18
Part-time employment is 5% in industry, mostly seasonal in 2023
19
Tlaxcala employs 80,000 in traditional textiles and apparel in 2022
20
Wage growth in textiles was 6.5% YoY in 2023 due to USMCA
21
Child labor in textiles reduced to under 1% by 2022 inspections
22
Remote work in design sectors is 3% of textile employment in 2023
23
Hidalgo state has 45,000 jobs in yarn spinning in 2021
24
Benefits coverage reaches 92% of formal textile workers in 2022
25
Skill gaps affect 35% of positions, per 2023 survey
26
Coahuila employs 60,000 in non-wovens production in 2022
27
Overtime pay compliance is 95% in audited factories 2023
28
Textile apprenticeships trained 12,000 youth in 2021
29
Gender pay gap in textiles is 18% favoring men in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
Despite boasting over 850,000 jobs and rising wages, Mexico's textile industry remains a tightly woven fabric of progress—with a 28% youth workforce, a growing 15% of female supervisors, and a 95% overtime compliance rate—and persistent frays, evidenced by an 18% gender pay gap, a 22% turnover rate, and a third of positions plagued by skill gaps.
02 · Category
Exports25 stats
01
Mexico exported $8.5 billion in textiles and apparel to the US in 2022
02
Mexico's textile exports to Canada grew 12% to $450 million in 2023
03
Denim jeans exports reached 120 million units valued at $2.1 billion in 2022
04
Non-woven exports surged 25% to $1.2 billion in 2023
05
EU textile imports from Mexico totaled $650 million in 2022, up 8%
06
Cotton t-shirts exports to US were 450 million units in 2023
07
Home textiles exports hit $1.8 billion, 22% of total in 2022
08
Automotive textiles exports valued $900 million to NAFTA partners in 2021
09
Knitwear exports grew 15% to $3.2 billion in 2023
10
Mexico ranked 3rd in US apparel imports at 7.5% share in 2022
11
Woven shirts exports totaled 80 million units worth $1.1 billion in 2023
12
Technical textiles exports to Asia reached $300 million in 2022
13
Underwear exports were $750 million, mainly to US in 2021
14
Socks exports hit 200 million pairs valued at $400 million in 2023
15
Bedding exports grew 18% to $850 million in 2022
16
Activewear exports totaled $2.5 billion, 30% growth in 2023
17
Towels exports reached $550 million to US and EU in 2021
18
Denim fabrics exports were 150 million meters in 2022
19
Medical textiles exports surged to $450 million post-COVID in 2023
20
Curtains exports valued $250 million in 2022
21
Mexico's share in US knit fabric imports was 15% in 2023
22
Sportswear exports to Europe hit $180 million in 2021
23
Yarn exports totaled $1.4 billion, 16% to Central America in 2022
24
Women's dresses exports were 35 million units in 2023
25
Protective clothing exports grew 20% to $320 million in 2022
Interpretation
Exports Interpretation
While its fashion sector is robust enough to clothe the Americas in denim and t-shirts, Mexico’s textile industry is shrewdly stitching together a more sophisticated future, threading innovation from medical gowns to automotive interiors through the very fabric of its economy.
03 · Category
Imports22 stats
01
Mexico imported $4.2 billion in textile machinery from Asia in 2022
02
Synthetic fibers imports reached 1.1 million tons valued at $2.8 billion in 2023
03
Cotton imports totaled 450,000 tons from US in 2022
04
Sewing machines imports were $650 million, 60% from China in 2021
05
Dyestuffs and chemicals imports hit $1.5 billion in 2023
06
Polyester staple fiber imports from South Korea: 300,000 tons in 2022
07
Fabric imports for re-export processing: $3.1 billion in 2023
08
Spinning machinery from Europe valued $420 million in 2021
09
Nylon yarn imports totaled 50,000 tons in 2022
10
Weaving looms imports: 2,500 units worth $180 million in 2023
11
Recycled polyester imports grew 30% to 120,000 tons in 2022
12
Wool imports from Australia: 12,000 tons in 2021
13
Knitting machines: $250 million imported in 2023
14
Specialty chemicals for finishing: $800 million from Germany in 2022
15
Viscose fiber imports: 80,000 tons valued at $220 million in 2023
16
Apparel fabrics from Asia: $2.9 billion in 2021
17
Automation equipment imports rose 18% to $950 million in 2022
18
Acrylic fiber from China: 25,000 tons in 2023
19
Dyeing machinery: $300 million imported in 2021
20
Raw cotton from Brazil: 100,000 tons in 2022
21
Non-woven machinery: $150 million from Italy in 2023
22
Elastane imports: 6,000 tons worth $90 million in 2022
Interpretation
Imports Interpretation
Mexico’s textile industry is threading a costly and sophisticated global supply chain, stitching together a massive production engine that runs almost entirely on imported machinery, fibers, and chemicals.
More related reading
04 · Category
Investments23 stats
01
FDI in Mexican textiles reached $1.2 billion in 2022 from US firms
02
15 new maquiladora plants opened in 2023, creating 20,000 jobs
03
Government incentives via IMMEX program: $450 million disbursed in 2022
04
Chinese FDI in yarn spinning: $300 million since 2020
05
Private equity investments in apparel: $180 million in 2023
06
Expansion in Puebla textile parks: $250 million invested in 2022
07
Sustainability tech investments: $120 million in recycling plants 2023
08
US companies invested $800 million in denim facilities 2021-2023
09
PROSEDI program allocated $60 million for modernization in 2022
10
Venture capital in digital textile design: $45 million in 2023
11
FDI from Europe in technical textiles: $220 million in 2022
12
10 greenfield projects in non-wovens: $400 million total 2023
13
Tax credits attracted $150 million for automation in 2021
14
Korean firms invested $100 million in polyester plants 2022
15
Infrastructure upgrades in border zones: $350 million public-private 2023
16
R&D investments reached $80 million via CONACYT grants 2022
17
Mergers and acquisitions in apparel: $90 million deals in 2023
18
Solar energy installations in factories: $70 million invested 2021-2023
19
Expansion of CANAIVE members' capacities: $500 million self-funded 2022
20
Nearshoring boom: $2.1 billion FDI projected for 2024
21
Italian machinery suppliers financed $110 million upgrades in 2023
22
Local banks loaned $600 million for textile expansions 2022
23
Biotech textiles startups received $25 million VC in 2023
Interpretation
Investments Interpretation
The threads of Mexico's textile industry are being woven with golden needles, as over $2 billion in FDI and a flurry of local investment—from denim to digital design—stitch together a modern, sustainable, and fiercely competitive nearshoring powerhouse.
05 · Category
Production30 stats
01
In 2022, Mexico's textile industry produced 1.2 million tons of cotton yarn, representing 12% of Latin America's total production
02
The maquiladora sector in textiles manufactured 450 million garments in 2023, with 60% being denim products
03
Synthetic fiber production reached 850,000 metric tons in Mexico in 2021, up 5% from previous year
04
Puebla state accounted for 25% of national textile weaving capacity at 1.5 billion meters of fabric in 2022
05
Mexico's non-woven fabrics output was 300,000 tons in 2023, driven by medical and hygiene sectors
06
Home textiles production, including bedding, totaled $2.1 billion in value in 2022
07
Knitted fabric production hit 2.8 billion square meters in 2021 across 150 mills
08
Wool yarn production in Mexico was 15,000 tons in 2022, mainly for export markets
09
Technical textiles output grew to 120,000 tons in 2023, focusing on automotive applications
10
Overall textile manufacturing capacity utilization was 78% in Q4 2022
11
Rayon and acetate fiber production stood at 45,000 tons in 2021
12
Denim fabric production reached 250 million meters in 2023 from 45 factories
13
Carpet and rug manufacturing output was 18 million square meters in 2022
14
Polyester filament yarn production was 620,000 tons in 2022
15
Apparel production from recycled textiles hit 50 million units in 2023
16
Towels and bath linens production totaled 120 million pieces in 2021
17
Spandex yarn output grew to 8,000 tons in 2022 amid sportswear demand
18
Curtain and drapery fabrics produced 95 million meters in 2023
19
Industrial thread production was 25,000 tons in 2022
20
Felt and non-wovens for filtration reached 40,000 tons in 2021
21
Cotton fabric greige goods output was 1.8 billion meters in 2022
22
Viscose staple fiber production stood at 30,000 tons in 2023
23
Socks manufacturing produced 400 million pairs in 2022
24
Leather-like synthetic textiles output was 15,000 tons in 2021
25
Bed sheets production reached 80 million units in 2023
26
Nylon filament yarn was 180,000 tons in 2022
27
Underwear and lingerie output totaled 250 million pieces in 2021
28
Geotextiles production grew to 22,000 tons in 2023
29
Acrylic fiber output was 12,000 tons in 2022
30
T-shirts manufacturing hit 1.1 billion units in 2023
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
From denim's stranglehold in the maquiladoras to a tidal wave of t-shirts and the quiet rise of high-tech fabrics, Mexico's textile industry weaves a massive, multifaceted tapestry of production that refuses to be pigeonholed.
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). Mexico Textile Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-textile-industry-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Mexico Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mexico-textile-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Mexico Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mexico-textile-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
10 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level