GITNUXREPORT 2026

Supply Chain In The Garment Industry Statistics

Global garment supply chains exploit workers and pollute the environment to deliver cheap fast fashion.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 27, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The global garment market was valued at $1.7 trillion in 2022

Statistic 2

Fast fashion segment grew 20% YoY to $100 billion in 2023

Statistic 3

Bangladesh garment exports reached $45 billion in FY2022, 84% of total exports

Statistic 4

Vietnam's textile exports hit $44 billion in 2022, up 15%

Statistic 5

China's apparel industry contributes 2.3% to GDP, $300 billion revenue

Statistic 6

India's garment exports were $16.4 billion in 2022, employing 45 million

Statistic 7

Turkey apparel exports $17 billion annually, 10% of total exports

Statistic 8

Cambodia garment exports $8.5 billion in 2022, 70% of GDP contribution

Statistic 9

Pakistan textile exports $19 billion, 60% of total exports in 2022

Statistic 10

Indonesia garment sector valued at $13 billion, 7% industrial GDP

Statistic 11

Ethiopia apparel exports grew to $200 million in 2022 from industrial parks

Statistic 12

Sri Lanka apparel exports $5.4 billion, 45% of merchandise exports

Statistic 13

Myanmar pre-coup garment exports $5 billion, 40% of exports

Statistic 14

Jordan apparel exports $1.8 billion, mainly to US under QIZ

Statistic 15

Lesotho textile exports $300 million, 20% of GDP

Statistic 16

Bangladesh factory owners invest $1 billion yearly in compliance upgrades

Statistic 17

Global supply chain disruptions cost apparel industry $20 billion in 2022

Statistic 18

Vietnam FDI in garments reached $5 billion cumulative by 2023

Statistic 19

Indian garment MSMEs contribute 80% of employment but only 40% value added

Statistic 20

Fast fashion margins average 60% for brands like Zara and H&M

Statistic 21

The garment industry consumes 93 billion cubic meters of water annually for dyeing and finishing

Statistic 22

Fast fashion produces 10% of global carbon emissions, more than aviation and shipping combined

Statistic 23

Textile dyeing is the world's second-largest polluter of clean water after agriculture

Statistic 24

Garment supply chains discard 92 million tons of textile waste yearly

Statistic 25

Cotton farming for apparel uses 16% of global insecticides, despite covering 2.5% of cultivated land

Statistic 26

Synthetic fibers from garments contribute 35% of ocean microplastics pollution

Statistic 27

Bangladesh garment factories discharge 200 million liters of untreated wastewater daily

Statistic 28

Leather tanning in garment supply chains uses 17,000 liters of water per ton of hide

Statistic 29

Global apparel production doubled from 2000-2014, emitting 1.2 billion tons CO2 yearly

Statistic 30

Viscose production for fashion releases hazardous chemicals like carbon disulfide, affecting 300,000 workers

Statistic 31

Fast fashion landfills 85% of its products within a year of production

Statistic 32

Indian textile mills pollute rivers with 350 million liters of dye effluent daily

Statistic 33

Polyester production for garments consumes 342 million barrels of oil annually

Statistic 34

Vietnam's garment industry generates 1.5 million tons of hazardous waste yearly

Statistic 35

Global fashion uses 79 trillion liters of water yearly, equivalent to 32 million Olympic pools

Statistic 36

Denim production requires 7,500 liters of water per pair of jeans

Statistic 37

Cambodia garment factories emit 1.2 million tons CO2 annually from energy use

Statistic 38

Pakistan cotton fields use 2,700 tons of pesticides yearly

Statistic 39

Chinese apparel manufacturing contributes 10% of national industrial wastewater

Statistic 40

Ethiopia's leather processing pollutes Awash River with chromium at 100x safe levels

Statistic 41

Turkish textile industry discharges 250 million m3 wastewater annually untreated

Statistic 42

Indonesian batik dyeing uses 100 liters water per kg fabric, polluting 50 rivers

Statistic 43

Morocco's garment tanneries release 40 tons heavy metals into waterways yearly

Statistic 44

Bangladesh tanneries contaminate soil with 400 tons lead annually

Statistic 45

Global apparel GHG emissions projected to rise 60% by 2030 without intervention

Statistic 46

Shein's supply chain emits 6.3 million tons CO2 yearly

Statistic 47

H&M's cotton sourcing involves 20% from unsustainable farms

Statistic 48

Nike's factories in Vietnam use 1 billion liters water yearly for production

Statistic 49

US imports 98% of apparel, 40% from Asia, $120 billion value in 2022

Statistic 50

EU apparel imports totaled €170 billion in 2022, 70% non-EU origin

Statistic 51

China's share of global apparel exports fell to 30% in 2022 from 40% in 2010

Statistic 52

Bangladesh overtook Vietnam as #2 apparel exporter with $42 billion in 2022

Statistic 53

Vietnam's US apparel exports grew 10% to $18 billion under CPTPP

Statistic 54

India's share in global apparel trade is 4%, targeting 10% by 2030

Statistic 55

Turkey exports 80% apparel to EU, benefiting from customs union

Statistic 56

Cambodia's US exports $7 billion under GSP, 90% garments

Statistic 57

Pakistan's EU exports $4 billion apparel under GSP+

Statistic 58

Indonesia targets $15 billion apparel exports by 2024 via RCEP

Statistic 59

Africa's AGOA boosts Lesotho US exports to $450 million garments

Statistic 60

Sri Lanka US exports $2.5 billion under GSP suspension lifted

Statistic 61

Myanmar lost $3 billion exports post-2021 coup due to sanctions

Statistic 62

Jordan US QIZ exports $1.5 billion duty-free apparel

Statistic 63

Ethiopia US AGOA apparel exports $150 million, growing 50% YoY

Statistic 64

Mexico US apparel trade $4 billion under USMCA, nearshoring rise

Statistic 65

Bangladesh EU Everything But Arms duty-free access covers 97% exports

Statistic 66

Global apparel trade volume $800 billion in 2022, down 5% from peak

Statistic 67

Shein and Temu shift sourcing to 50% SE Asia from China in 2023

Statistic 68

US-China trade war tariffs cover 60% apparel imports, raising costs 15%

Statistic 69

Lead time in garment supply chain averages 120-150 days from order to delivery

Statistic 70

40% of apparel shipments delayed by 2+ weeks due to Red Sea disruptions in 2024

Statistic 71

Automation in garment factories reduces sewing time by 30% via digital sewing machines

Statistic 72

Blockchain traceability implemented in 15% of major brands' supply chains by 2023

Statistic 73

Average inventory turnover in apparel is 4-6 times per year for fast fashion

Statistic 74

Nearshoring reduces supply chain lead times by 50% for US brands from Mexico

Statistic 75

RFID tagging improves inventory accuracy to 99% in Zara's supply chain

Statistic 76

Global apparel air freight usage dropped 20% post-COVID to cut costs

Statistic 77

Supplier audits average 2.5 visits per year for Tier 1 factories in brands like Nike

Statistic 78

Digital twins optimize 25% of production planning errors in pilot garment factories

Statistic 79

Bangladesh port congestion delays 30% of exports by 7-10 days

Statistic 80

Vietnam's garment logistics costs 12% of export value, higher than peers

Statistic 81

3D prototyping cuts sampling costs by 40% and time by 70% in design phase

Statistic 82

Supplier diversification: top brands have 500+ factories to mitigate risks

Statistic 83

AI demand forecasting improves accuracy by 35% for H&M supply chain

Statistic 84

Sea freight from China to Europe takes 35-45 days, up 20% due to Panama Canal issues

Statistic 85

Reverse logistics for returns costs apparel industry $20 billion annually

Statistic 86

Turkey's quick response model delivers orders in 4-6 weeks vs 12+ Asia

Statistic 87

Ethiopia Hawassa park achieves 2-week lead time for US brands

Statistic 88

Global traceability software covers 20% of garment supply chain volume

Statistic 89

India's PLI scheme boosts domestic garment production efficiency by 15%

Statistic 90

Apparel industry lost $190 billion revenue from 2020-2022 disruptions

Statistic 91

In 2022, the global apparel supply chain employed approximately 75 million workers worldwide

Statistic 92

Bangladesh's garment factories account for 80% of the country's exports, employing over 4 million workers

Statistic 93

75% of garment workers in Vietnam are women, primarily in low-wage assembly roles

Statistic 94

Average hourly wage in garment factories in Cambodia is $0.31 after inflation adjustment

Statistic 95

Over 60% of Indian garment workers work more than 48 hours per week without overtime pay

Statistic 96

In Ethiopia, garment industry workers earn an average of $26 per month, below the poverty line

Statistic 97

Pakistan's garment sector has 2.5 million workers, with child labor in 10% of facilities

Statistic 98

85% of fast fashion brands source from factories with documented labor violations

Statistic 99

Indonesian garment workers face 12-hour shifts, with 70% reporting health issues from overwork

Statistic 100

In China, 30 million migrant workers in apparel supply chains earn 20% below minimum wage

Statistic 101

Sri Lanka's garment industry employs 350,000, with 90% women facing gender-based discrimination

Statistic 102

Myanmar garment factories saw 70% worker displacement due to 2021 coup, affecting 800,000 jobs

Statistic 103

Turkey's apparel sector has 500,000 informal workers without social security

Statistic 104

In Haiti, garment workers earn $5 per day, producing for US brands

Statistic 105

Lesotho's textile industry employs 40,000, mostly women earning under $100/month

Statistic 106

Jordan's Qualified Industrial Zones employ 70,000 migrant workers in garments under exploitative conditions

Statistic 107

Mauritius garment sector has 50,000 workers, with unionization at only 5%

Statistic 108

In Nicaragua, 45,000 garment workers struck in 2019 over wages and conditions

Statistic 109

Honduras maquila workers (120,000) earn average $250/month amid high violence rates

Statistic 110

Global garment supply chain has 116 million workers in informal sectors without protections

1/110

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

Beneath the glitz of runway trends lies a hidden world of staggering scale and sobering sacrifice, where over 75 million workers across the globe stitch the clothes we wear while facing profound labor injustices, and where the very production process exacts a devastating environmental toll that contradicts the industry's glamorous image.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the global apparel supply chain employed approximately 75 million workers worldwide
Bangladesh's garment factories account for 80% of the country's exports, employing over 4 million workers
75% of garment workers in Vietnam are women, primarily in low-wage assembly roles
The garment industry consumes 93 billion cubic meters of water annually for dyeing and finishing
Fast fashion produces 10% of global carbon emissions, more than aviation and shipping combined
Textile dyeing is the world's second-largest polluter of clean water after agriculture
The global garment market was valued at $1.7 trillion in 2022
Fast fashion segment grew 20% YoY to $100 billion in 2023
Bangladesh garment exports reached $45 billion in FY2022, 84% of total exports
Lead time in garment supply chain averages 120-150 days from order to delivery
40% of apparel shipments delayed by 2+ weeks due to Red Sea disruptions in 2024
Automation in garment factories reduces sewing time by 30% via digital sewing machines
US imports 98% of apparel, 40% from Asia, $120 billion value in 2022
EU apparel imports totaled €170 billion in 2022, 70% non-EU origin
China's share of global apparel exports fell to 30% in 2022 from 40% in 2010

Global garment supply chains exploit workers and pollute the environment to deliver cheap fast fashion.

Economic Impact

The global garment market was valued at $1.7 trillion in 2022
Fast fashion segment grew 20% YoY to $100 billion in 2023
Bangladesh garment exports reached $45 billion in FY2022, 84% of total exports
Vietnam's textile exports hit $44 billion in 2022, up 15%
China's apparel industry contributes 2.3% to GDP, $300 billion revenue
India's garment exports were $16.4 billion in 2022, employing 45 million
Turkey apparel exports $17 billion annually, 10% of total exports
Cambodia garment exports $8.5 billion in 2022, 70% of GDP contribution
Pakistan textile exports $19 billion, 60% of total exports in 2022
Indonesia garment sector valued at $13 billion, 7% industrial GDP
Ethiopia apparel exports grew to $200 million in 2022 from industrial parks
Sri Lanka apparel exports $5.4 billion, 45% of merchandise exports
Myanmar pre-coup garment exports $5 billion, 40% of exports
Jordan apparel exports $1.8 billion, mainly to US under QIZ
Lesotho textile exports $300 million, 20% of GDP
Bangladesh factory owners invest $1 billion yearly in compliance upgrades
Global supply chain disruptions cost apparel industry $20 billion in 2022
Vietnam FDI in garments reached $5 billion cumulative by 2023
Indian garment MSMEs contribute 80% of employment but only 40% value added
Fast fashion margins average 60% for brands like Zara and H&M

Economic Impact Interpretation

The sheer scale and speed of the modern garment industry, where a $1.7 trillion wardrobe hinges on the economic fate of nations and the relentless, high-margin churn of fast fashion, reveals a world stitched together by both astonishing growth and profound vulnerability.

Environmental Sustainability

The garment industry consumes 93 billion cubic meters of water annually for dyeing and finishing
Fast fashion produces 10% of global carbon emissions, more than aviation and shipping combined
Textile dyeing is the world's second-largest polluter of clean water after agriculture
Garment supply chains discard 92 million tons of textile waste yearly
Cotton farming for apparel uses 16% of global insecticides, despite covering 2.5% of cultivated land
Synthetic fibers from garments contribute 35% of ocean microplastics pollution
Bangladesh garment factories discharge 200 million liters of untreated wastewater daily
Leather tanning in garment supply chains uses 17,000 liters of water per ton of hide
Global apparel production doubled from 2000-2014, emitting 1.2 billion tons CO2 yearly
Viscose production for fashion releases hazardous chemicals like carbon disulfide, affecting 300,000 workers
Fast fashion landfills 85% of its products within a year of production
Indian textile mills pollute rivers with 350 million liters of dye effluent daily
Polyester production for garments consumes 342 million barrels of oil annually
Vietnam's garment industry generates 1.5 million tons of hazardous waste yearly
Global fashion uses 79 trillion liters of water yearly, equivalent to 32 million Olympic pools
Denim production requires 7,500 liters of water per pair of jeans
Cambodia garment factories emit 1.2 million tons CO2 annually from energy use
Pakistan cotton fields use 2,700 tons of pesticides yearly
Chinese apparel manufacturing contributes 10% of national industrial wastewater
Ethiopia's leather processing pollutes Awash River with chromium at 100x safe levels
Turkish textile industry discharges 250 million m3 wastewater annually untreated
Indonesian batik dyeing uses 100 liters water per kg fabric, polluting 50 rivers
Morocco's garment tanneries release 40 tons heavy metals into waterways yearly
Bangladesh tanneries contaminate soil with 400 tons lead annually
Global apparel GHG emissions projected to rise 60% by 2030 without intervention
Shein's supply chain emits 6.3 million tons CO2 yearly
H&M's cotton sourcing involves 20% from unsustainable farms
Nike's factories in Vietnam use 1 billion liters water yearly for production

Environmental Sustainability Interpretation

Our closets have become a planetary crime scene, where every cheap garment whispers a tally of stolen water, poisoned rivers, and a sky thickened with the ghost of last season's trends.

Global Trade and Sourcing

US imports 98% of apparel, 40% from Asia, $120 billion value in 2022
EU apparel imports totaled €170 billion in 2022, 70% non-EU origin
China's share of global apparel exports fell to 30% in 2022 from 40% in 2010
Bangladesh overtook Vietnam as #2 apparel exporter with $42 billion in 2022
Vietnam's US apparel exports grew 10% to $18 billion under CPTPP
India's share in global apparel trade is 4%, targeting 10% by 2030
Turkey exports 80% apparel to EU, benefiting from customs union
Cambodia's US exports $7 billion under GSP, 90% garments
Pakistan's EU exports $4 billion apparel under GSP+
Indonesia targets $15 billion apparel exports by 2024 via RCEP
Africa's AGOA boosts Lesotho US exports to $450 million garments
Sri Lanka US exports $2.5 billion under GSP suspension lifted
Myanmar lost $3 billion exports post-2021 coup due to sanctions
Jordan US QIZ exports $1.5 billion duty-free apparel
Ethiopia US AGOA apparel exports $150 million, growing 50% YoY
Mexico US apparel trade $4 billion under USMCA, nearshoring rise
Bangladesh EU Everything But Arms duty-free access covers 97% exports
Global apparel trade volume $800 billion in 2022, down 5% from peak
Shein and Temu shift sourcing to 50% SE Asia from China in 2023
US-China trade war tariffs cover 60% apparel imports, raising costs 15%

Global Trade and Sourcing Interpretation

The global garment supply chain is a high-stakes game of geopolitical musical chairs, where nations jockey for position with trade deals and tariffs, revealing that our wardrobe's origin story is less about style and more about strategic economic alliances.

Supply Chain Efficiency

Lead time in garment supply chain averages 120-150 days from order to delivery
40% of apparel shipments delayed by 2+ weeks due to Red Sea disruptions in 2024
Automation in garment factories reduces sewing time by 30% via digital sewing machines
Blockchain traceability implemented in 15% of major brands' supply chains by 2023
Average inventory turnover in apparel is 4-6 times per year for fast fashion
Nearshoring reduces supply chain lead times by 50% for US brands from Mexico
RFID tagging improves inventory accuracy to 99% in Zara's supply chain
Global apparel air freight usage dropped 20% post-COVID to cut costs
Supplier audits average 2.5 visits per year for Tier 1 factories in brands like Nike
Digital twins optimize 25% of production planning errors in pilot garment factories
Bangladesh port congestion delays 30% of exports by 7-10 days
Vietnam's garment logistics costs 12% of export value, higher than peers
3D prototyping cuts sampling costs by 40% and time by 70% in design phase
Supplier diversification: top brands have 500+ factories to mitigate risks
AI demand forecasting improves accuracy by 35% for H&M supply chain
Sea freight from China to Europe takes 35-45 days, up 20% due to Panama Canal issues
Reverse logistics for returns costs apparel industry $20 billion annually
Turkey's quick response model delivers orders in 4-6 weeks vs 12+ Asia
Ethiopia Hawassa park achieves 2-week lead time for US brands
Global traceability software covers 20% of garment supply chain volume
India's PLI scheme boosts domestic garment production efficiency by 15%
Apparel industry lost $190 billion revenue from 2020-2022 disruptions

Supply Chain Efficiency Interpretation

The apparel industry, as it hauls itself from the disruptions of a lost $190 billion, is a patient wrestling with contradicting realities: digital leaps like AI and 3D prototyping promise agility, yet its arteries remain clogged by 150-day ocean voyages, port delays, and a crippling $20 billion returns habit, all while stitching together a future from blockchain threads, RFID precision, and the tense geopolitics of nearshoring.

Workforce and Labor

In 2022, the global apparel supply chain employed approximately 75 million workers worldwide
Bangladesh's garment factories account for 80% of the country's exports, employing over 4 million workers
75% of garment workers in Vietnam are women, primarily in low-wage assembly roles
Average hourly wage in garment factories in Cambodia is $0.31 after inflation adjustment
Over 60% of Indian garment workers work more than 48 hours per week without overtime pay
In Ethiopia, garment industry workers earn an average of $26 per month, below the poverty line
Pakistan's garment sector has 2.5 million workers, with child labor in 10% of facilities
85% of fast fashion brands source from factories with documented labor violations
Indonesian garment workers face 12-hour shifts, with 70% reporting health issues from overwork
In China, 30 million migrant workers in apparel supply chains earn 20% below minimum wage
Sri Lanka's garment industry employs 350,000, with 90% women facing gender-based discrimination
Myanmar garment factories saw 70% worker displacement due to 2021 coup, affecting 800,000 jobs
Turkey's apparel sector has 500,000 informal workers without social security
In Haiti, garment workers earn $5 per day, producing for US brands
Lesotho's textile industry employs 40,000, mostly women earning under $100/month
Jordan's Qualified Industrial Zones employ 70,000 migrant workers in garments under exploitative conditions
Mauritius garment sector has 50,000 workers, with unionization at only 5%
In Nicaragua, 45,000 garment workers struck in 2019 over wages and conditions
Honduras maquila workers (120,000) earn average $250/month amid high violence rates
Global garment supply chain has 116 million workers in informal sectors without protections

Workforce and Labor Interpretation

This vast, interconnected system of threads and textiles is ultimately held together by the immense vulnerability of tens of millions of people, whose essential labor is so often valued at less than the price of the shirt they sew.