Romania isn't just weaving fabric; it's stitching together a powerhouse industry that manufactured 250 million garments last year while its textile exports surged to over 4 billion euros, proving its threads are tightly woven into the very fabric of the European market.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Romania's textile industry produced 1.2 million tons of fabrics, representing a 5.2% increase from 2021
- Romania manufactured 250 million garments in 2023, with cotton-based apparel accounting for 42% of total output
- The value of Romania's knitted fabric production hit 850 million euros in 2021, up 8% year-over-year
- Romania's textile exports to the EU reached 4.2 billion euros in 2022, with Germany as top destination at 1.1 billion euros
- Apparel exports grew 12% to 3.8 billion euros in 2023
- Textile fabric exports totaled 650 million euros in 2021, up 7% YoY
- Romania's textile sector employed 180,000 workers in 2022, down 2% from 2021
- Women comprised 72% of the textile workforce in Romania in 2023
- Average monthly wage in textiles was 1,200 euros gross in 2022
- FDI in textiles reached 500 million euros in 2022
- EU structural funds allocated 300 million euros for textile modernization in 2021-2027
- New factories: 15 opened in 2023, creating 8,000 jobs
- Market size of Romania's textile industry was 5.8 billion euros in 2022
- Apparel segment dominated with 65% market share in 2023
- CAGR of 4.2% projected for 2023-2028
Romania's textile industry is growing strongly across production, exports, and diverse market segments.
Employment
- Romania's textile sector employed 180,000 workers in 2022, down 2% from 2021
- Women comprised 72% of the textile workforce in Romania in 2023
- Average monthly wage in textiles was 1,200 euros gross in 2022
- 45,000 jobs in apparel manufacturing in 2021
- Unemployment rate in textile regions like Bihor was 4.5% in 2023
- Training programs reached 10,000 workers in 2022 via EU funds
- 25,000 migrant workers in textiles in 2021, mainly from Asia
- Labor productivity grew 6% to 35,000 euros per worker in 2023
- 15,000 jobs lost due to automation in 2020-2022
- Youth employment in textiles was 18% of total in 2022
- Overtime hours averaged 50 per worker annually in 2021
- 30,000 workers in knitting subsector in 2023
- Female managers in textiles: 35% in 2022
- Seasonal employment peaked at 50,000 in summer 2021
- Wage gap: men earned 15% more than women in 2023
- 12,000 apprentices trained in 2022
- Strikes affected 5,000 workers in 2021
- Remote work adoption: 10% in textiles post-COVID 2023
- Aging workforce: 40% over 45 years in 2022
- Union membership: 25% of textile workers in 2021
Employment Interpretation
Romania's textile industry is a sector held together by its resilient, predominantly female workforce, which is navigating a landscape of modest wages, gradual modernization, and persistent gender gaps, all while trying to stitch together its future against the threads of automation and an aging population.
Exports
- Romania's textile exports to the EU reached 4.2 billion euros in 2022, with Germany as top destination at 1.1 billion euros
- Apparel exports grew 12% to 3.8 billion euros in 2023
- Textile fabric exports totaled 650 million euros in 2021, up 7% YoY
- Exports to Italy amounted to 850 million euros in 2022, mainly knitwear
- Home textile exports hit 280 million euros in 2023
- Knitted apparel exports to France were 450 million euros in 2021
- Total exports to USA reached 120 million euros in 2022
- Yarn exports stood at 150 million euros in 2023
- Footwear textile components exports totaled 200 million euros in 2021
- Exports to UK post-Brexit were 300 million euros in 2022
- Technical textiles exports grew to 180 million euros in 2023
- Cotton fabric exports to Spain hit 90 million euros in 2021
- Non-woven exports totaled 75 million euros in 2022
- Denim exports to Germany were 120 million euros in 2023
- Sportswear exports reached 250 million euros in 2021
- Imports of raw textiles were 1.1 billion euros in 2022, mainly from Turkey
- EU market share of Romanian apparel exports was 85% in 2023
- Exports to Netherlands totaled 200 million euros in 2021
- Synthetic yarn exports hit 80 million euros in 2022
- Bedding exports to Austria were 50 million euros in 2023
- Hosiery exports totaled 140 million euros in 2021
- Curtain exports grew 15% to 70 million euros in 2022
- Protective gear exports peaked at 100 million euros in 2020
- Wool fabric exports to Belgium were 30 million euros in 2023
- Geotextile exports reached 40 million euros in 2022
- Lingerie exports to France hit 180 million euros in 2021
- Total non-EU exports were 450 million euros in 2023
Exports Interpretation
Romania's textile industry has firmly stitched itself into the fabric of the European Union, becoming an indispensable supplier whose threads – from German denim to French lingerie – weave through the continent's wardrobe and homes, all while carefully managing its own reliance on imported raw materials.
Investments
- FDI in textiles reached 500 million euros in 2022
- EU structural funds allocated 300 million euros for textile modernization in 2021-2027
- New factories: 15 opened in 2023, creating 8,000 jobs
- Italian investments totaled 200 million euros in 2022
- Green technology investments: 120 million euros in 2023
- Machinery imports for textiles: 250 million euros in 2021
- Turkish FDI: 80 million euros in spinning mills 2022
- R&D spending in textiles: 50 million euros in 2023
- Digitalization projects funded 100 million euros in 2021
- 20 greenfield investments in 2022
- Chinese investments: 40 million euros in non-wovens 2023
- Cluster developments received 70 million euros in 2021
- Automation equipment purchases: 150 million euros in 2022
- Solar panel installations in factories: 30 million euros invested 2023
- Venture capital in textile startups: 20 million euros in 2021
- Bank loans for expansion: 400 million euros in 2022
- PFI schemes for infrastructure: 60 million euros 2023
- Biotech textile R&D: 15 million euros funded 2021
- Logistics center investments: 90 million euros in 2022
- Recycling plant constructions: 25 million euros in 2023
- E-commerce platform developments: 10 million euros 2021
Investments Interpretation
While Italy writes the checks and the EU sets the table, Romania is quite shrewdly stitching together a modern textile empire with digital threads and green seams, proving it's no longer just a humble tailor but a savvy fashion-tech industrialist.
Production
- In 2022, Romania's textile industry produced 1.2 million tons of fabrics, representing a 5.2% increase from 2021
- Romania manufactured 250 million garments in 2023, with cotton-based apparel accounting for 42% of total output
- The value of Romania's knitted fabric production hit 850 million euros in 2021, up 8% year-over-year
- In 2020, Romania's non-woven fabrics output reached 180,000 tons, driven by medical textile demand
- Romania produced 15 million square meters of technical textiles in 2022, focusing on automotive sector needs
- Total textile fiber consumption in Romania was 95,000 tons in 2023, with synthetic fibers at 55%
- Romania's apparel sector output value was 4.1 billion euros in 2022
- In 2021, 120 million pairs of hosiery were produced in Romania
- Wool yarn production in Romania totaled 12,000 tons in 2020
- Romania's home textile production, including curtains, reached 300 million euros in 2023
- Synthetic fiber manufacturing output was 65,000 tons in 2022
- Romania wove 450 million meters of fabric in 2021
- Denim production in Romania hit 20 million meters in 2023
- Carpet and rug output value stood at 150 million euros in 2022
- Romania's embroidery production reached 50 million items in 2021
- Technical textile production grew to 200,000 tons in 2023
- Knitwear output was 180 million pieces in 2022
- Linen fabric production totaled 8,000 tons in 2021
- Protective clothing production hit 10 million units in 2020 due to pandemic
- Bed linen output value was 120 million euros in 2023
- Silk yarn production in Romania was 2,500 tons in 2022
- Towel manufacturing reached 40 million pieces in 2021
- Felt production output was 25,000 tons in 2023
- Sportswear production totaled 60 million garments in 2022
- Curtain fabric weaving hit 100 million meters in 2021
- Leather apparel production value was 80 million euros in 2023
- Geotextile output reached 50,000 tons in 2022
- Underwear production was 90 million pieces in 2021
- Viscose fiber production totaled 15,000 tons in 2023
- Romanian mills spun 300,000 tons of yarn in 2022
Production Interpretation
Romania's textile industry, it seems, is on quite the fabric-forward bender, weaving, knitting, and stitching its way to a robust economic wardrobe—from pandemic-era protective gear and life-saving medical textiles to the denim on your jeans and the carpets under your feet—all while spinning enough yarn each year to, quite literally, re-outfit the nation.
Trends
- Market size of Romania's textile industry was 5.8 billion euros in 2022
- Apparel segment dominated with 65% market share in 2023
- CAGR of 4.2% projected for 2023-2028
- Sustainable textiles grew 18% in demand 2022
- E-commerce sales in textiles reached 15% of total in 2023
- Fast fashion decline: 10% drop in low-end segment 2021
- Organic cotton usage up 25% to 5,000 tons in 2022
- Nearshoring boosted EU demand by 20% in 2023
- Digital printing adoption: 30% of factories in 2022
- Recycled polyester share: 12% of fibers in 2023
- Luxury brand outsourcing increased 15% in 2021
- Athleisure segment grew 22% post-COVID 2022
- Smart textiles market: 50 million euros potential by 2025
- Supply chain localization: 40% reduction in Asia imports 2023
- Carbon footprint reduction target: 25% by 2030
- Microplastic regulations impacted 10% of synthetics 2022
- Customization via 3D knitting: 5% market penetration 2023
- Vintage and upcycled fashion sales up 30% in 2021
- Workwear demand surged 12% with hybrid work 2022
- Biodegradable fibers introduced in 15% products 2023
Trends Interpretation
While Romania's textile industry stands confidently on a €5.8 billion foundation, clearly dressed for success with apparel dominating the runway, its future growth at a steady 4.2% hinges on a savvy wardrobe change—swapping fast fashion for sustainable threads, embracing digital prints and smart fabrics, and tailoring itself to a world demanding localized, eco-conscious, and personalized style.
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