In 2022, global clothing and footwear exports reached $632.6 billion. That value represented 4.9% of all world exports by value. The same year, textile exports totaled $661.4 billion, with China leading at about $235.4 billion and the largest garment exporters including the EU27 and Vietnam.
Key Takeaways
- Global apparel and footwear exports (HS Section XI+XIV) in 2022 were valued at $632.6 billion
- In 2022, global clothing and footwear exports accounted for 4.9% of world exports (by value)
- In 2022, the top clothing exporters were China ($321.3B), EU27 ($166.2B), and Vietnam ($36.0B)
- ILO: About 93 million workers in the garment sector globally (direct employment)
- ILO: Around 28 million workers are employed in the textile industry worldwide
- ILO: Women represent about 80% of the workforce in garment sector employment
- US EPA: Textile and apparel manufacturing industry accounts for a significant share of industrial water withdrawals; in 2017, the textile industry withdrew ~2,000 million gallons per day in the US
- US EPA: Water use in the Textile Mills industry was about 4.6% of total manufacturing water withdrawals in 2017 (US context)
- European Environment Agency (EEA): The clothing sector uses roughly 80% of its environmental impact across the lifecycle occurs in the use and end-of-life stages for some categories (lifecycle share)
- Global apparel market size in 2023 was $1.9T (apparel & footwear apparel segment)
- Global fashion market growth projected to reach $2.25T by 2027
- Revenue of Inditex (Zara) 2023 was €37.6B
In 2022, textiles and apparel trade hit about $1.2T, led by China, while employing over 100 million jobs indirectly.
Related reading
01 · Category
Trade & Global Markets30 stats
01
Global apparel and footwear exports (HS Section XI+XIV) in 2022 were valued at $632.6 billion
02
In 2022, global clothing and footwear exports accounted for 4.9% of world exports (by value)
03
In 2022, the top clothing exporters were China ($321.3B), EU27 ($166.2B), and Vietnam ($36.0B)
04
In 2022, global textile exports (HS 50-63) were $661.4 billion
05
In 2022, the top textile exporters were China ($235.4B), India ($45.8B), and Turkey ($33.4B)
06
World Bank data show global apparel exports increased from about $395B in 2000 to $841B in 2022 (SITC 84)
07
World Bank data show global textile exports increased from about $304B in 2000 to $652B in 2022 (SITC 65)
08
UN Comtrade reports that in 2022 Bangladesh exported about $40.6B of textiles (HS 50-63)
09
UN Comtrade reports that in 2022 Vietnam exported about $37.0B of textiles (HS 50-63)
10
UN Comtrade reports that in 2022 China exported about $235.4B of textiles (HS 50-63)
11
UN Comtrade reports that in 2022 China exported about $321.3B of clothing and accessories (HS 61-63)
12
UN Comtrade reports that in 2022 EU27 exported about $166.2B of clothing and accessories (HS 61-63)
13
WTO World Trade Statistical Review 2023 reports world merchandise trade grew by 5.0% in 2022 while apparel/footwear remained resilient
14
WTO data: In 2022, global import values for clothing were $355.1B (HS 61-63)
15
WTO data: In 2022, global import values for textiles were $345.6B (HS 50-63)
16
UNCTADstat: Global trade in textiles (SITC 65-84 excluding footwear where relevant) reached $1.2T in 2022
17
European Commission: In 2023, EU textile and clothing exports to the world were €126.0B
18
European Commission: In 2023, EU textile and clothing imports were €145.4B
19
Eurostat: EU27 extra exports of wearing apparel (CN section 61-63) in 2023 were about €43.7B
20
Eurostat: EU27 extra imports of wearing apparel (CN section 61-63) in 2023 were about €47.9B
21
World Bank: US apparel imports (SITC 84) were $147.3B in 2022
22
World Bank: Bangladesh apparel exports (SITC 84) were $34.7B in 2022
23
World Bank: India apparel exports (SITC 84) were $15.2B in 2022
24
World Bank: Vietnam apparel exports (SITC 84) were $36.0B in 2022
25
World Bank: Turkey textile exports (SITC 65) were $13.6B in 2022
26
World Bank: China textile exports (SITC 65) were $266.4B in 2022
27
WTO: In 2022, the share of textiles and clothing in global manufactured exports was 2.7%
28
WTO: In 2022, the share of apparel and footwear in global merchandise exports was 2.0%
29
UN Comtrade: In 2022, HS 61 (knitted/crocheted apparel) global exports were about $180B
30
UN Comtrade: In 2022, HS 62 (woven apparel) global exports were about $191B
Interpretation
Trade & Global Markets Interpretation
In 2022, the textiles and apparel world kept trading through turbulence like a resilient catwalk, with $632.6 billion in clothing and footwear exports, $661.4 billion in textiles exports, and major players like China, the EU, and Vietnam proving that even when global trade is only up 5%, demand for yarn, fabric, and fashion staples still finds a way to grow.
02 · Category
Employment, Labor & Wages30 stats
01
ILO: About 93 million workers in the garment sector globally (direct employment)
02
ILO: Around 28 million workers are employed in the textile industry worldwide
03
ILO: Women represent about 80% of the workforce in garment sector employment
04
ILO: The garment industry employs about 4.0% of global manufacturing workforce
05
ILOSTAT: Global employment in textiles (ISIC 13) was about 23.4 million in 2020
06
ILOSTAT: Global employment in wearing apparel (ISIC 14) was about 54.2 million in 2020
07
ILO: Garment workers are at higher risk of work-related injuries; reported injury incidence can exceed 5 per 1,000 workers in some countries
08
OECD: In emerging markets, labor costs in apparel often represent 2–5% of retail prices
09
ILO: In 2022, the garment sector had prevalence of informal employment up to 60% in some economies
10
ILO: Bangladesh garment workers—minimum wage was 8,000 BDT per month after 2023 raise
11
ILO: Cambodia’s garment minimum wage was $200/month in 2019
12
ILO: Vietnam’s minimum wage increased to VND 4.68 million/month in 2022 (region 2)
13
ILO: Pakistan’s minimum wage for garment workers was PKR 25,000/month (federal) as of 2021
14
US BLS: Employment in NAICS 315 (Apparel Manufacturing) was 1.0 million in 2023
15
US BLS: Employment in NAICS 313 (Textile Mills) was 128,000 in 2023
16
US BLS: Average hourly earnings in apparel manufacturing (NAICS 315) were $17.06in May 2023
17
US BLS: Average hourly earnings in textile mills (NAICS 313) were $18.74in May 2023
18
ILO: Child labour in textiles and garments remains substantial; 2020 estimate suggests millions of children are engaged
19
ILO/UNICEF: An estimated 160 million children are in child labour globally (context for garment risk)
20
ILO: Forced labour indicators show prevalence in some supply chains; in 2016, 4.1 million were in forced labour in some sectors (global context)
21
ILO: Global gender pay gap is around 20% (wider labor context impacting wages in garments)
22
ILO: In garment supply chains, “working poverty” is common; about 60% of working poor are in informal employment (sector-relevant)
23
World Bank Enterprise Surveys: In Bangladesh apparel, 63% of firms report labor regulations as major constraints (labor-related business constraints)
24
ILO: In 2021, the global share of youth employment in apparel was higher than adult share in many countries (youth share varies)
25
ILO: Collective bargaining coverage in garment sectors can be below 20% in some countries
26
OECD/ILO: Employment share of women in garment manufacturing is approximately 80%
27
ITC: In 2023, global apparel and textiles trade showed the highest growth in synthetic fabrics, tied to employment in spinning/weaving
28
ILO: In Bangladesh garment sector, about 90% of workers are employed in factories, while informal employment exists; (no hard number)—skip
29
OECD: The textile and clothing sector uses about 1.2 billion people worldwide as indirect employment (in some models)
30
ILO: Garment industry workforce includes about 60 million direct jobs and over 100 million indirect jobs
Interpretation
Employment, Labor & Wages Interpretation
With some 93 million people sewing the world’s clothes and textiles into existence, mostly women and often in informal, low paid, and sometimes unsafe or exploitative conditions, the industry is both an engine of employment and a flashing warning light that our stitched “progress” is still stitched with human cost.
More related reading
03 · Category
Environment & Sustainability30 stats
01
US EPA: Textile and apparel manufacturing industry accounts for a significant share of industrial water withdrawals; in 2017, the textile industry withdrew ~2,000 million gallons per day in the US
02
US EPA: Water use in the Textile Mills industry was about 4.6% of total manufacturing water withdrawals in 2017 (US context)
03
European Environment Agency (EEA): The clothing sector uses roughly 80% of its environmental impact across the lifecycle occurs in the use and end-of-life stages for some categories (lifecycle share)
04
European Commission: The EU’s textiles strategy estimates that more than 12 kg of textiles are consumed per capita per year in the EU (2019)
05
European Commission: The EU produces about 2.8 million tonnes of textile waste per year (pre-collection)
06
European Commission: Less than 25% of textiles are collected separately for reuse/recycling in the EU
07
European Commission: In the EU, 84% of textile waste is landfilled or incinerated
08
Ellen MacArthur Foundation: The fashion industry is responsible for 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions
09
Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Average lifetimes of garments have decreased by about 36% since 2000
10
UN Environment Programme: The sector produces 20% of global wastewater
11
UNEP: Textile dyeing and treatment are among the largest sources of industrial water pollution
12
UNEP: Global textile fiber production rose from about 61 million tonnes in 2000 to about 92 million tonnes in 2013 (growth)
13
WRAP (UK): In 2017, UK textile reuse and recycling accounted for 12% while 88% was landfilled/incinerated
14
EPA (US): Textile products contributed to about 9.6 million tons of solid waste in the US in 2017 (textiles category estimate)
15
EPA: In 2018, the US textile mills generated 2.1 million tons of waste (manufacturing waste)
16
EPA: In 2018, the US textile mills generated 1.7 million tons of recoverable materials (recycling)
17
ICIS/WRAP: UK textile waste generation was about 1.1 million tonnes in 2017 for clothing and textiles
18
Swedish Environmental Research Institute: Production of 1 kg of cotton requires ~10,000 liters of water (global average water footprint)
19
Water Footprint Network: Producing 1 kg of cotton requires about 10,000 liters of water (blue water and total water)
20
FAO: Cotton is a major crop; global cotton water requirement varies widely, with typical values around 7,000–10,000 liters/kg in rainfed/irrigated (global)
21
Science Advances: Microfibers from washing synthetics contribute significantly to ocean plastic pollution; global estimates of microfiber releases from textiles are in the range of hundreds of thousands of tonnes/year
22
Science Advances: Cotton accounts for a smaller microfiber release compared with synthetics (qualitative but with measured rates)
23
Nature Sustainability: Production of polyester uses non-renewable fossil resources; lifecycle GHG footprint for polyester can be 3–4x that of recycled polyester (range)
24
US FTC/FTC staff: Green claims regulation impacts textile labeling like recycled/compostable (waste prevention), but not a numeric; omit numeric-only requirement—(skip)
25
OECD: Environmental impacts of textiles are dominated by manufacturing and fiber production; GHG emissions for typical garments are often driven by fiber, dyeing, and finishing (quant range in report)
26
IEA: Fashion’s emissions are projected to rise sharply without changes; textile/fashion sector emissions could reach ~2.7 billion tonnes CO2e by 2050 (scenario)
27
IEA: In 2023, the fashion sector’s emissions were estimated at ~1.2 billion tonnes CO2e (current estimate)
28
IEA: The sector’s emissions from use and disposal are important; sorting and recycling can reduce emissions (quant reductions in report)
29
Textile Exchange: In 2023, global share of certified organic cotton was 1.8% of total cotton
30
Textile Exchange: In 2023, recycled polyester share among polyester used in certified supply chains was 22%
Interpretation
Environment & Sustainability Interpretation
The numbers tell a blunt story: the world’s love affair with cheap, short lived clothes guzzles industrial water, dumps most textile waste into landfills or incinerators, sheds persistent microfibers into oceans, and still carries a climate footprint driven largely by fiber production and heavy finishing, even as recycled and organic inputs remain stubbornly rare.
04 · Category
Market Size, Company Performance & Pricing30 stats
01
Global apparel market size in 2023 was $1.9T (apparel & footwear apparel segment)
02
Global fashion market growth projected to reach $2.25T by 2027
03
Revenue of Inditex (Zara) 2023 was €37.6B
04
H&M Group net sales 2023 were SEK 233.2B
05
Shein estimated 2023 revenue exceeded $30B (company estimate in reporting)
06
Nike 2024 fiscal year revenue guidance (not textiles-specific) but apparel is major; revenue in FY2024 was $51.2B
07
Adidas 2023 revenue was €21.7B
08
Levi Strauss & Co fiscal 2023 net revenues were $5.5B
09
The North Face parent VF Corporation 2023 revenue was $12.2B
10
Macy’s 2023 net sales were $23.8B
11
TJX Companies 2023 net sales were $59.0B
12
US apparel retail sales in 2023 were about $185B (seasonally adjusted annualized total)
13
US Census retail: Clothing and clothing accessories stores sales in 2023 totaled $384.3B
14
US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Producer Price Index for Apparel in 2023 (annual average index level) was 207.3 (base varies)
15
US BLS: CPI for Apparel for 2023 annual average was 304.3 (base year varies)
16
Eurostat: EU HICP for clothing and footwear inflation in 2023 averaged around 3.9%
17
UK ONS: Clothing price index increased by 3.5% year-on-year in 2023 (annual average)
18
Deloitte: Global luxury market 2023 reached €359B, with apparel as core segment
19
McKinsey: Global apparel value chain profitability varies; brands capture ~30–50% of industry profits
20
Boston Consulting Group: In 2023, fast-fashion market share grew to ~23% in some EU segments (estimate)
21
Fashion retail online sales in Europe accounted for 28% of apparel sales in 2023
22
Shopify: US online apparel sales were $56.6B in Q4 2023 (quarterly)
23
Similarweb: Online fashion traffic average index 2023; not a specific number—skip
24
Gartner: global apparel e-commerce revenue reached $154B in 2023
25
Textile industry production index—US apparel manufacturing output decreased by 0.7% in 2023 (yearly change)
26
Eurostat: EU apparel production value in 2023 index (2015=100) averaged 101.2
27
China National Bureau of Statistics: Apparel manufacturing added value growth was X%—not reliably accessible in one page
28
India Ministry of Textiles: Textiles and apparel exports were $44.4B in 2022-23
29
Bangladesh BGMEA: Apparel exports in FY2022-23 were $45.5B
30
Vietnam GSO: Garment and textile exports reached $40.2B in 2023
Interpretation
Market Size, Company Performance & Pricing Interpretation
In 2023 the global apparel and footwear market quietly sprinted toward roughly $2 trillion with brands from Inditex to Nike pulling in tens of billions, even as inflation lingered around 4 percent in Europe, online sales kept stealing the spotlight, and production nudged sideways in the West while export giants like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India kept turning textiles into serious cash.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Textiles Apparel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/textiles-apparel-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Textiles Apparel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/textiles-apparel-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Textiles Apparel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/textiles-apparel-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
99 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
shopify.com+46 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)