Global fiber production reached an all-time high of 124 million tonnes in 2023, according to Textile Exchange’s annual Materials Market Report.
Textile Exchange’s Materials Market Report has been the leading source for global fiber and materials production volumes for the last decade. It helps inform the textile industry’s efforts to reduce emissions associated with raw material production in line with a 1.5-degree temperature rise pathway.
The latest report, which looks at total fiber volumes used for apparel, home textiles, footwear, or any other application, shows that global fiber production increased 7% from 116 million tonnes in 2022 to 124 million tonnes in 2023. This number is expected to rise to 160 million tonnes in 2030 if current trends continue.
Similarly, the market share of virgin fossil-based synthetics continued to increase in 2023, while that of cotton and recycled fibers slightly declined. These findings highlight a continued reliance on new virgin fossil-based synthetic materials, threatening to undermine the industry’s commitments to its climate goals. It also shows the current limitations of textile-to-textile recycling and an urgent need for innovative solutions, with most recycled polyester still coming from PET bottles.