Textile Manufacturing Industry Profile

Companies in this industry operate mills that produce textiles and textile products from natural and synthetic materials. Major companies include Milliken and WL Gore & Associates (both based in the US); Chinatex and Weiqiao Textile (both based in China); Far Eastern New Century (Taiwan); Hyosung (South Korea); and Teijin, Toray, and Toyobo (all based in Japan).

Worldwide textile exports amount to about $941 billion in 2022, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). China dominates the global industry; other major players include Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and Germany.

The US textile manufacturing industry includes about 8,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of nearly $50 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by the domestic apparel industry and consumer demand for home furnishings like carpets, furniture, and curtains. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations. Large companies have economies of scale in production for high-volume items. Small companies can compete successfully by producing specialized textiles. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate about 60% of revenue.

Textile imports, which account for about 45% of the US market, come mainly from Canada, China, India, Mexico, and South Korea. Exports represent about 25% of US textile production. The main export destinations include Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Mexico. Many manufacturers ship fabric to other countries for sewing into final garments, which are then reimported into ...