Taiwan’s textile and apparel exports totaled US$12.5 billion in 2023, but the labor force powering that output is aging. In 2022, 65% of textile workers were aged 40 and over, and average monthly pay rose to NT$45,000 in 2023. The sector also maintained a low 2.1% unemployment rate even as automation removed about 10,000 jobs from 2018 to 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Taiwan textile industry employed 120,000 workers in 2022
- Average monthly wage in textile sector NT$45,000 in 2023, up 4% YoY
- 65% of textile workforce aged 40+ in 2022, indicating aging issue
- Taiwan's textile exports to the US reached US$4.2 billion in 2022, up 10% YoY
- Total textile and apparel exports were US$12.5 billion in 2023
- Exports to China accounted for 25% of Taiwan's textile shipments, valued at US$3.1 billion in 2022
- In 2022, 2,500 patents filed by textile firms
- R&D expenditure NT$20 billion in 2023, 3% of revenue
- Smart textile prototypes developed 1,200 in 2022
- In 2022, Taiwan's textile industry produced 1.2 million metric tons of synthetic fibers, accounting for 4.5% of global production
- Taiwan's nonwoven fabric output reached 450,000 tons in 2023, with a year-on-year growth of 8.2%
- The value of Taiwan's textile yarn production was NT$250 billion in 2021, up 12% from 2020
- Taiwan's textile industry water usage reduced 30% since 2015 to 50 million m³ in 2022
- Carbon emissions from textiles 1.2 million tons CO2e in 2023, down 10% YoY
- 45% of production uses recycled materials in 2023
In 2022 to 2023, Taiwan’s textiles boosted exports while raising wages, productivity, and sustainability.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Labor24 stats
01
Taiwan textile industry employed 120,000 workers in 2022
02
Average monthly wage in textile sector NT$45,000in 2023, up 4% YoY
03
65% of textile workforce aged 40+ in 2022, indicating aging issue
04
Women comprise 55% of textile employees in Taiwan as of 2023
05
Labor productivity per worker NT$2.5 million in 2022
06
Unemployment rate in textile industry 2.1% in 2023
07
15,000 new hires in textiles in 2022 via vocational training
08
Average working hours 198 per month in 2021
09
R&D personnel in textiles 8,000 in 2023, 7% of workforce
10
Turnover rate 12% in textile factories in 2022
11
Migrant workers in textiles 20,000 from Southeast Asia in 2023
12
Training programs reached 50,000 workers in 2022
13
Injury rate 1.2 per 1,000 workers in 2021
14
Union membership 30% of textile employees in 2023
15
Youth employment (under 30) 25% in 2022, down from 35% in 2015
16
Overtime hours averaged 20 per month in 2023
17
Female managers 20% in textile firms in 2022
18
Automation reduced workforce by 10,000 jobs 2018-2023
19
Skill shortage in digital textile tech 15% of positions in 2023
20
Part-time workers 10% of total employment in 2022
21
Wage growth 5.2% in 2023 for production line workers
22
Total employment in synthetic fiber subsector 25,000 in 2021
23
Vocational training investment NT$1 billion in 2022
24
Labor cost as % of production 25% in 2023
Interpretation
Employment and Labor Interpretation
Despite boasting impressive productivity and low unemployment, Taiwan's textile industry faces a future woven with uncertainty, as it struggles to attract younger workers, relies on an aging and predominantly female workforce, and grapples with automation's job losses, all while trying to stitch together higher wages with the relentless pressure of labor costs.
02 · Category
Exports and Trade27 stats
01
Taiwan's textile exports to the US reached US$4.2 billion in 2022, up 10% YoY
02
Total textile and apparel exports were US$12.5 billion in 2023
03
Exports to China accounted for 25% of Taiwan's textile shipments, valued at US$3.1 billion in 2022
04
In 2023, functional textile exports grew 18% to US$2.8 billion
05
Taiwan's nonwoven exports hit US$1.5 billion in 2022
06
Apparel exports to EU were US$1.2 billion in 2023, down 3% due to tariffs
07
Synthetic fiber exports volume 800,000 tons in 2022
08
In 2021, technical textiles exports US$3 billion
09
Exports to Vietnam reached US$900 million in 2023
10
Taiwan's yarn exports value NT$150 billion in 2022
11
Fabric exports to Japan US$600 million in 2023
12
In 2022, home textile exports US$1.8 billion
13
Medical textile exports surged 25% to US$500 million in 2023 post-COVID
14
Total exports share of production 70% in 2022
15
Exports to ASEAN US$2.5 billion in 2021
16
In 2023, recycled textile exports US$400 million
17
Knitted fabric exports 600,000 tons in 2022
18
US market share for Taiwan textiles 15% in 2023, value US$4.5 billion
19
Imports of raw materials for export production US$5 billion in 2022
20
EU exports growth 12% to US$1.4 billion in 2023
21
In 2021, total trade surplus in textiles US$8 billion
22
Bangladesh as export market US$300 million in 2022
23
Digital printing fabric exports up 20% to US$200 million in 2023
24
Korea textile imports from Taiwan US$700 million in 2022
25
Sustainable textile exports certified 40% of total in 2023
26
In 2022, machinery exports related to textiles US$1 billion
27
India market exports US$250 million in 2023
Interpretation
Exports and Trade Interpretation
While riding the wave of functional fabrics and medical textiles to a sturdy $12.5 billion in exports, Taiwan's textile industry must carefully stitch together its reliance on both the dependable US market and the more politically delicate Chinese market to keep its material success from unraveling.
03 · Category
Innovation and R&D25 stats
01
In 2022, 2,500 patents filed by textile firms
02
R&D expenditure NT$20 billion in 2023, 3% of revenue
03
Smart textile prototypes developed 1,200 in 2022
04
Nanotechnology applications in textiles 150 projects in 2023
05
Government subsidies for textile R&D NT$5 billion in 2021-2023
06
Collaborations with universities 50 in 2022 for new materials
07
3D knitting technology adoption 40% of factories in 2023
08
AI in quality control implemented in 60% firms by 2022
09
New fiber innovations 30 types launched in 2023
10
Digital transformation investment NT$10 billion in 2022
11
Biotech textiles R&D projects 25 in 2023
12
Sensor-embedded fabrics patents 800 cumulative by 2022
13
Recycling tech advancements reduced waste by 20% in pilots 2023
14
Automation robots deployed 5,000 units in 2022
15
Phase-change materials in textiles commercialized 10 products 2023
16
Blockchain for supply chain traceability 15 pilots in 2022
17
R&D centers 20 operational in textile parks 2023
18
Carbon fiber textile composites R&D budget NT$2 billion 2022
19
Wearable tech textiles exports from R&D US$100 million 2023
20
Machine learning models for dyeing optimization 50 developed 2022
21
Antimicrobial fiber innovations 40 strains tested 2023
22
Industry 4.0 adoption rate 55% in 2023
23
New material labs equipped 100 machines in 2022
24
VR training simulations for workers 20 programs 2023
25
Quantum dot dyes R&D phase 5 projects 2022
Interpretation
Innovation and R&D Interpretation
Taiwan’s textile industry isn't just spinning yarn anymore; it’s weaving a high-tech future from a robust fabric of relentless R&D, substantial investment, and clever collaboration, stitching together everything from AI and automation to nanotechnology and blockchain with an impressive, almost obsessive, 3,500 patents' worth of ingenuity.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production and Output29 stats
01
In 2022, Taiwan's textile industry produced 1.2 million metric tons of synthetic fibers, accounting for 4.5% of global production
02
Taiwan's nonwoven fabric output reached 450,000 tons in 2023, with a year-on-year growth of 8.2%
03
The value of Taiwan's textile yarn production was NT$250 billion in 2021, up 12% from 2020
04
Taiwan manufactured 300 million square meters of functional textiles in 2022
05
In 2023, Taiwan's knitted fabric production hit 1.1 million tons, representing 65% of total fabric output
06
Taiwan's apparel production volume was 150 million pieces in 2022, down 5% due to supply chain issues
07
Output of Taiwan's man-made staple fibers reached 180,000 tons in 2021
08
In Q1 2024, Taiwan's textile machinery production value was NT$15 billion
09
Taiwan produced 250,000 tons of polyester filament yarn in 2023
10
The industry's total fiber production capacity stood at 1.5 million tons per year as of 2022
11
Taiwan's woven fabric output was 800,000 tons in 2022, with 40% for export
12
In 2021, home textile production reached NT$100 billion in value
13
Taiwan's technical textiles production grew 15% to 500,000 tons in 2023
14
Dyeing and finishing output value was NT$180 billion in 2022
15
In 2023, Taiwan's spandex production was 25,000 tons
16
Total textile product shipments reached 2.5 million tons in 2022
17
Taiwan's recycled polyester fiber production hit 100,000 tons in 2023
18
Knitting industry output value NT$300 billion in 2021
19
In 2022, elastic yarn production was 30,000 tons
20
Taiwan's filament yarn capacity utilization rate was 85% in 2023
21
Woven garment production 120 million units in 2023
22
Nonwoven production capacity 600,000 tons/year in 2022
23
Taiwan's nylon fiber output 50,000 tons in 2021
24
Technical yarn production value NT$50 billion in 2023
25
In 2022, total fabric production 1.8 million tons
26
Acrylic fiber production 20,000 tons in 2023
27
Taiwan's textile waste recycling rate for fibers was 45% in 2022
28
Home fabric output 200,000 tons in 2021
29
In 2023, smart textile production prototypes numbered 5,000 units
Interpretation
Production and Output Interpretation
While a giant's 4.5% global fiber footprint proves its scale, it's Taiwan's textile industry's clever pivot—stitching resilience into growth, knitting high-value tech into every thread, and weaving a future of smart, sustainable prototypes—that truly clothes its ambitions in data.
05 · Category
Sustainability and Environment26 stats
01
Taiwan's textile industry water usage reduced 30% since 2015 to 50 million m³ in 2022
02
Carbon emissions from textiles 1.2 million tons CO2e in 2023, down 10% YoY
03
45% of production uses recycled materials in 2023
04
Energy efficiency improved 25% per ton of output 2018-2022
05
Zero-waste factories 15 certified in 2023
06
GOTS certified organic textiles 20,000 tons produced 2022
07
Wastewater treatment rate 98% in textile plants 2023
08
Renewable energy use 15% of total in industry 2022
09
Chemical usage reduced 40% via green dyes in 2023
10
Bluesign certified suppliers 50 in Taiwan 2022
11
Biodiversity impact assessments 100% for new projects 2023
12
Recycled water usage 60 million m³ in 2022
13
Scope 3 emissions reporting 70% of firms in 2023
14
Solar panels installed capacity 50 MW in textile parks 2022
15
Eco-label products 30% of exports in 2023
16
Plastic waste from packaging recycled 90% in 2022
17
Green building certifications 40 factories in 2023
18
CO2 reduction targets met 80% for 2030 goals in 2022 progress
19
Biodegradable fibers production 10,000 tons in 2023
20
Air pollution control investments NT$3 billion 2022
21
Sustainable cotton usage 15,000 tons in 2023
22
Life cycle assessments conducted for 200 products 2022
23
Forest conservation partnerships with 10 NGOs in 2023
24
Energy audits completed 95% compliance in 2022
25
Low-impact dyeing tech 70% adoption by 2023
26
Waste-to-energy plants 5 operational serving textiles 2022
Interpretation
Sustainability and Environment Interpretation
While Taiwan's textile industry isn't quite spinning straw into gold, it is weaving a rather impressive, data-drenched tapestry of reduced water, carbon, and chemical footprints, proving that sustainable fashion is more than just a threadbare promise.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Taiwan Textile Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/taiwan-textile-industry-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Taiwan Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/taiwan-textile-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Taiwan Textile Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/taiwan-textile-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
10 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level