In its August 2026 issue of The Textiles Observer, the ICAC reported that, while China remains the largest exporter, Bangladesh has risen from 14th place in 2006 to become the world’s second-largest exporter by 2025, with Vietnam advancing from 21st to third position.
Together, China, Bangladesh and Vietnam accounted for about 44% of global textile exports in 2025, marking a significant redistribution in clothing manufacturing power.
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The report highlighted that total world textile exports grew from approximately $560bn in 2006 to $914bn in 2025, with knit and woven garments making up nearly 60% of that total.
During this period, Bangladesh and Vietnam’s export volumes surged, outpacing many established players.
The concentration of manufacturing in East and South-East Asia contrasts with a broadening market for finished products.
Although the US is still the world’s largest textile importer, its share fell from 18.9% in 2006 to 13.7% in 2025.
The ICAC pointed to the rising importance of multiple European and Asian markets, resulting in a more dispersed and multipolar global textile trade.
Fibre preferences shift as synthetics gain ground
Despite the changes in export rankings, competition between cotton and synthetic fibres is also reshaping the sector.
Cotton’s share of global fibre demand has dropped from 68.3% in 1960 to 21.1% in 2025, while synthetics’ share increased from 4.6% to 71.7%.
For knit garments, cotton exports grew from around $69.9bn in 2006 to $128.3bn in 2025 but lost ground in market share to synthetic and man-made exports, which rose from $35.6bn to $99.2bn over the same period.
The trend was even more pronounced in woven garments, with man-made fibres overtaking cotton in export value in 2021.
Industry faces quality and process challenges
The ICAC publication also highlighted persistent quality challenges within the cotton sector. Dr Marinus (René) van der Sluijs, writing in the August issue, noted stickiness and seed-coat fragments as continuing risks to product quality and supply chain efficiency.
According to a global study referenced in the report, 64% of respondents identified stickiness as a significant cotton fibre defect affecting yarn quality, and cotton from regions linked to this issue can be subject to price discounts of up to 50%.
Seed-coat fragments are difficult to remove during processing and can lead to increased production costs, spinning disruptions, and visible defects in finished fabrics. The report reviews detection techniques and measures to limit their impact.
The ICAC concluded that the textile and garment sector continues to undergo substantial realignment, manufacturing leaders are shifting, demand is diversifying, and competitive pressures between fibres are intensifying.
While cotton remains an essential fibre for global apparel, its competitiveness is increasingly challenged by synthetics and by tightening expectations around quality and processing performance.
