Global polyester production climbs while cotton declines and viscose holds steady

Textile Exchange‘s annual report indicates that global fibre production is expected to remain on an upward trajectory in 2024, with synthetic fibres steadily widening the gap with natural materials, while cellulosic (wood-pulp-based) fibres are expected to hold steady. The share of recycled fibres has not increased either, except in the wool market.

In 2024, the volume of fibre produced worldwide rose by 6.5% to 132 million tonnes. Synthetic fibres accounted for 69% of this total, up nine points on the 2020 level, with polyester alone accounting for 59%.

Having already reached a 57% share in 2023, polyester continued to gain ground, reaching a total of 78 million tonnes in 2024. Production of recycled polyester increased from 8.9 to 9.3 million tonnes. Polyamide (nylon), the second most-produced synthetic fibre, accounts for just 5% of global fibre production.

Whereas cotton accounted for 20% of fibre production in 2023, it fell to 19% in 2024, with 24.1 million tonnes of virgin cotton. Textile Exchange notes, however, that 34% of cotton produced is now certified to sustainability standards, compared with 28% the previous year. The share of recycled cotton remains stable at 1%, at 300,000 tonnes.

Other plant-based fibres account for 6.9 million tonnes of production. This market is dominated by jute (54%), followed by cotton fibre (26%), flax (5%), and hemp (5%). These two bast fibres, flax and hemp, thus account for 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively, of global fibre production.

Cellulosics, the third major fibre family (obtained through the chemical transformation of plant-based raw materials), maintained their market share, with viscose, acetate, lyocell, modal and cupro accounting for 6% of global fibre production, at 8.4 million tonnes (+6.4%). However, over the past year, the market share of recycled cellulosics has increased, rising from 0.7% to 1.1%, or 90,000 tonnes.

Nearly 70% of this sector’s production is now covered by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) forest certification programmes.

Animal fibres still account for only 1% of global fibre production, of which wool captures 0.9%, with 1.98 million tonnes of virgin wool. Within this market, the share of recycled wool has risen from 6% to 7%, with 83,000 tonnes. Cashmere (0.02%), mohair (0.004%) and alpaca (0.005%) have maintained their market shares in global fibre production.

Still within animal-derived materials, global down production rose from 626,000 to 659,000 tonnes, with ducks accounting for nearly 90%. The share of recycled down in this market is only 1%.

Although it is not a fibre, Textile Exchange does not overlook leather. Around 13.8 million tonnes were produced last year, from approximately 1.6 million animals. Global production last year comprised 9.4 million tonnes of sheep skins and 2.2 million tonnes of sheepskins. These figures are in addition to 11.5 million tonnes of goat skins and 800,000 tonnes of buffalo skins.

Excluding fibres, the report estimates global rubber production at 15 million tonnes in 2024. The share of production carried out under the FSC and PEFC forest certification programmes rose over the year from 2.9% to 3.2%.