A web of global industry spanning billions of dollars and employing millions of hands, the yarn sector spins a fascinating story of shifting production hubs, evolving demand, and a growing push toward sustainability—as revealed by a world that produced over 62.5 million metric tons of yarn in 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- Global yarn production in 2022 totaled 62.5 million metric tons, with cotton yarn accounting for 45% of the total
- China's yarn production capacity reached 45 million tons annually by 2023, representing 35% of global capacity
- India produced 8.2 million tons of yarn in FY2022-23, with a 5.2% year-over-year growth
- Global yarn market size was valued at USD 85.6 billion in 2022, projected to reach USD 112.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.4%
- Cotton yarn market revenue hit USD 38.2 billion in 2023, growing at 4.1% CAGR through 2030
- Synthetic yarn market valued at USD 47.4 billion in 2022, expected CAGR of 5.2% to 2030
- Global yarn consumption reached 65.3 million tons in 2022, with Asia consuming 72%
- Cotton yarn consumption worldwide was 25.6 million tons in 2022, down 1.5% from 2021
- Polyester yarn demand hit 54.2 million tons in 2022, up 4.3% YoY
- World yarn exports reached USD 45.2 billion in 2022, up 8.5% from 2021
- China exported 3.2 million tons of yarn worth USD 12.6 billion in 2022
- India yarn exports were 0.45 million tons valued at USD 1.8 billion in FY2023
- Yarn industry employed 15.2 million people globally in 2022, mostly in Asia
- India's yarn sector provided 4.5 million direct jobs in 2023
- China textile yarn workforce was 7.8 million in 2022, down 1.5% YoY
China dominates global yarn production with Asia driving steady growth and sustainability trends.
Demand and Consumption
- Global yarn consumption reached 65.3 million tons in 2022, with Asia consuming 72%
- Cotton yarn consumption worldwide was 25.6 million tons in 2022, down 1.5% from 2021
- Polyester yarn demand hit 54.2 million tons in 2022, up 4.3% YoY
- India consumed 5.1 million tons of yarn in FY2023, 55% imported
- EU yarn consumption fell to 2.8 million tons in 2022, -3.2% decline
- US domestic yarn consumption was 4.2 million tons in 2022, mostly synthetics
- Bangladesh yarn demand reached 1.75 million tons in FY2023, 90% for RMG sector
- China yarn consumption totaled 38.4 million tons in 2022, 60% polyester
- Vietnam's yarn consumption grew to 1.4 million tons in 2022, import-dependent
- Global apparel yarn demand accounted for 68% of total yarn use in 2022
- Polyester staple fiber yarn consumption was 19.4 million tons in 2022, Asia 80%
- Viscose yarn global demand reached 5.6 million tons in 2022, up 2.1%
- Home furnishing yarn consumption totaled 9.8 million tons worldwide in 2022
- Technical textiles yarn use was 14.2 million tons in 2022, 22% of total
- Carpet yarn demand stable at 3.4 million tons globally in 2022
- Pakistan consumed 1.9 million tons of yarn in FY2023, 70% local
- Turkey yarn consumption was 1.65 million tons in 2022, import 40%
- Mexico yarn demand reached 0.55 million tons in 2022, USMCA impact
- Indonesia consumed 1.1 million tons of yarn in 2022, 65% synthetic
- Africa yarn consumption totaled 1.8 million tons in 2022, growing 5%
Demand and Consumption Interpretation
Asia is increasingly cloaked in affordable polyester, the West is stitching with less, and everyone’s wardrobe is statistically holding the global yarn industry together by a thread.
Employment and Sustainability
- Yarn industry employed 15.2 million people globally in 2022, mostly in Asia
- India's yarn sector provided 4.5 million direct jobs in 2023
- China textile yarn workforce was 7.8 million in 2022, down 1.5% YoY
- Bangladesh yarn mills employed 1.2 million workers in 2023, 40% women
- US yarn manufacturing jobs stood at 120,000 in 2022, declining 3%
- Vietnam yarn industry jobs reached 800,000 in 2022, growing 6%
- Global sustainable yarn production (organic/recycled) was 2.1 million tons in 2022, up 12%
- Water usage in yarn production averaged 150 liters per kg of cotton yarn globally
- CO2 emissions from synthetic yarn production totaled 45 million tons in 2022
- 28% of global yarn production used recycled fibers in 2023 pilots
- Pakistan yarn sector energy consumption was 15 kWh per kg in 2022
- EU yarn recycling rate reached 22% in 2022, target 30% by 2030
- Global yarn employment in SMEs was 70% of total 10.6 million in 2022
- Women comprised 55% of yarn industry workforce in South Asia 2022
- Automation reduced yarn mill jobs by 15% in China 2018-2022
- Organic yarn production employed 250,000 farmers globally in 2022
- EU yarn sector trained 50,000 workers in sustainability 2022-23
- Water recycling in yarn dyeing reached 65% average in top mills 2023
- Global yarn waste generation was 8.5 million tons in 2022, 40% recycled
- Solar power usage in Indian yarn mills 12% of energy in 2023
- Carbon footprint of cotton yarn averaged 5.7 kg CO2e per kg in 2022
- 15% of yarn production certified GOTS in 2023, up from 10% in 2020
Employment and Sustainability Interpretation
While the global yarn industry spins a tangled web of contradictions—employing millions in Asia amidst declining Western jobs, straining water resources while recycling more, and weaving automation's threat with sustainability's promise—its true measure lies not just in the thread it produces, but in the complex social and environmental fabric it continuously re-weaves for better or worse.
International Trade
- World yarn exports reached USD 45.2 billion in 2022, up 8.5% from 2021
- China exported 3.2 million tons of yarn worth USD 12.6 billion in 2022
- India yarn exports were 0.45 million tons valued at USD 1.8 billion in FY2023
- Vietnam yarn exports surged to 0.92 million tons worth USD 2.1 billion in 2022
- Indonesia exported USD 1.45 billion in yarn in 2022, mainly to Asia
- US yarn imports totaled USD 4.3 billion in 2022, 75% from Asia
- EU yarn imports reached 1.9 million tons valued at EUR 5.2 billion in 2022
- Pakistan yarn exports were USD 2.8 billion in FY2023, 95% cotton yarn
- Turkey yarn exports hit USD 1.9 billion in 2022, to EU and Middle East
- Bangladesh imported 1.5 million tons of yarn worth USD 3.4 billion in FY2023
- Global yarn trade volume grew 7.2% to 12.4 million tons in 2022
- India's yarn exports to US were USD 650 million in 2022, cotton dominant
- EU-China yarn trade volume was 0.8 million tons in 2022, deficit EUR 2.1B
- Turkey-EU yarn exports reached USD 850 million in 2022
- Vietnam-US yarn imports by US from Vietnam USD 1.2 billion in 2022
- Pakistan-EU yarn exports USD 450 million in 2022, GSP benefits
- Global intra-Asia yarn trade was USD 25.6 billion in 2022, 57% of total
- Brazil yarn exports to China USD 120 million in 2022
- Peru alpaca yarn exports totaled USD 45 million in 2022
- Egypt yarn exports to EU USD 180 million in 2022
- World yarn import growth slowed to 6.1% in 2022 post-COVID
International Trade Interpretation
While China continues to spin the global yarn trade into a multi-billion dollar tapestry, the rest of the world is desperately trying to stitch together a competitive edge without getting completely unraveled.
Market Value and Growth
- Global yarn market size was valued at USD 85.6 billion in 2022, projected to reach USD 112.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 3.4%
- Cotton yarn market revenue hit USD 38.2 billion in 2023, growing at 4.1% CAGR through 2030
- Synthetic yarn market valued at USD 47.4 billion in 2022, expected CAGR of 5.2% to 2030
- Yarn market in Asia-Pacific accounted for 62% share in 2022, valued at USD 53 billion
- US yarn market size was USD 6.8 billion in 2022, with 2.8% CAGR forecast to 2028
- European yarn market revenue reached EUR 12.5 billion in 2022, declining 1.2% YoY
- Indian yarn market valued at INR 1.2 lakh crore in FY2023, growing 6% annually
- Global recycled yarn market size was USD 4.2 billion in 2022, CAGR 7.5% to 2030
- Wool yarn segment market worth USD 8.9 billion in 2023, projected 3.9% CAGR
- Technical yarn market valued at USD 22.1 billion in 2022, 4.6% CAGR expected
- Acrylic yarn market size reached USD 5.6 billion in 2022, CAGR 4.2% to 2030
- Nylon yarn market valued at USD 7.3 billion in 2023, 5.1% growth forecast
- Home textile yarn market share was 18% of total yarn market at USD 15.4 billion in 2022
- Automotive yarn market grew to USD 3.8 billion in 2022, 6.3% CAGR
- Medical textile yarn segment valued USD 2.1 billion in 2022, up 7.8%
- Middle East yarn market size was USD 4.5 billion in 2022, 3.9% CAGR
- Latin America yarn market revenue hit USD 6.2 billion in 2023
- Digital printed yarn market emerging at USD 1.8 billion in 2022, 9.2% CAGR
- Sportswear yarn demand drove 12% market growth in performance yarns to USD 9.7 billion
Market Value and Growth Interpretation
While the traditional yarn market steadily knits along at 3.4% growth, the future is being fast-tracked by performance and recycled fibers, suggesting that the industry's true value lies not just in covering us, but in moving, healing, and sustaining us.
Production and Capacity
- Global yarn production in 2022 totaled 62.5 million metric tons, with cotton yarn accounting for 45% of the total
- China's yarn production capacity reached 45 million tons annually by 2023, representing 35% of global capacity
- India produced 8.2 million tons of yarn in FY2022-23, with a 5.2% year-over-year growth
- Synthetic yarn production worldwide hit 32.4 million tons in 2022, up 3.8% from 2021
- US yarn manufacturing output was 1.1 million tons in 2022, declining 2.1% due to imports
- Pakistan's spinning capacity for yarn stood at 9.5 million spindles in 2023, producing 2.8 million tons
- Vietnam yarn production grew to 1.2 million tons in 2022, driven by garment exports
- Bangladesh yarn output reached 1.6 million tons in FY2022-23, with 70% for exports
- Turkey produced 1.4 million tons of yarn in 2022, focusing on organic varieties
- Brazil's yarn production was 0.45 million tons in 2022, with polyester dominating at 60%
- Global organic cotton yarn production was 0.95 million tons in 2022/23
- Turkey's melange yarn production increased 8% to 0.32 million tons in 2023
- Iran's yarn output was 0.28 million tons in 2022, 65% synthetic
- Egypt produced 0.35 million tons of cotton yarn in 2022/23 season
- Peru's yarn production reached 0.12 million tons in 2022, alpaca specialty
- Global filament yarn production was 28.7 million tons in 2022
- Spun yarn output worldwide totaled 33.8 million tons in 2022
- Fancy yarn production grew 4.5% to 1.2 million tons globally in 2023
- Blended yarn production accounted for 22% of total at 13.8 million tons in 2022
Production and Capacity Interpretation
While China and India spin a globe-spanning tapestry of yarn measured in millions of tons, America’s own threadbare output proves that sometimes, the story of global production is one of who’s doing the knitting and who’s just buying the sweater.
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