Overall, the cost of imported knitted or crocheted T-shirts totaled US$45 billion in 2023.

That dollar amount results from a 7.2% average increase for all importing countries from five years earlier in 2019 when international purchases of imported T-shirts cost $41.9 billion.

Year over year, worldwide T-shirt imports reduced in overall purchases by -10.4% compared to $50.2 billion during 2022.

From a continental perspective, buyers in Europe purchased the highest dollar worth of imported T-shirts at $23.1 billion or over half (51.3%) of the global total for 2023. In second place were importers in Asia at 21% while another 19.4% of T-shirts imported worldwide was delivered to customers in North America.

Smaller percentages went to buyers in Latin America (4.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (2.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then those in Africa (1.7%).

Cotton is the dominant material for T-shirt manufacturing. Cotton T-shirts accounted for $32.1 billion in worldwide purchases or approaching three-quarters (71.4%) of all T-shirts imported during 2023.

Similar apparel made from textiles other than cotton equaled $12.5 billion for the remaining 28.6%.

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for knitted or crocheted T-shirt is 6109. Drilling down, cotton T-shirts fall under 610910 while T-shirts made from other materials are categorized as 610990.

T-shirt Imports by Country

Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of knitted or crocheted T-shirts (regardless of source materials) during 2023.

1. United States: US$6.9 billion (15.4% of total imported T-shirts)
2. Germany: $4.2 billion (9.4%)
3. France: $2.6 billion (5.7%)
4. United Kingdom: $2.2 billion (4.9%)
5. Italy: $2.09 billion (4.7%)
6. Japan: $2.07 billion (4.6%)
7. Spain: $2 billion (4.5%)
8. Netherlands: $1.6 billion (3.6%)
9. Poland: $1.30 billion (2.9%)
10. Belgium: $1.08 billion (2.4%)
11. South Korea: $1.03 billion (2.3%)
12. Hong Kong: $1.01 billion (2.2%)
13. mainland China: $945 million (2.1%)
14. Canada: $930.1 million (2.1%)
15. Mexico: $882.0 million (2%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 68.7% of all T-shirts imported in 2023.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for T-shirts since 2019 were: Mexico (up 55.8%), Poland (up 54%), Canada (up 21.3%) and Italy (up 16.9%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported T-shirts purchases were: United Kingdom (down -18.5% from 2022), Belgium (down -16.2%), Japan (down -14.8%) and mainland China (down -1.1%).

T-shirt Imports by Country: Cotton

Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of cotton T-shirts during 2023.

United States: US$4.9 billion (15.2% of imported cotton T-shirts)

Germany: $3 billion (9.2%)

France: $1.8 billion (5.7%)

Italy: $1.6 billion (5.1%)

United Kingdom: $1.53 billion (4.8%)

Spain: $1.51 billion (4.7%)

Japan: $1.3 billion (4%)

Netherlands: $1.1 billion (3.6%)

Poland: $1 billion (3.2%)

Hong Kong: $792.8 million (2.5%)

Belgium: $756.9 million (2.4%)

mainland China: $736.9 million (2.3%)

Mexico: $681.4 million (2.1%)

Canada: $653.3 million (2%)

South Korea: $648.3 million (2%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 68.7% of all cotton T-shirts imported in 2023.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for cotton T-shirts since 2019 were: Mexico (up 65.9%), Poland (up 62.4%), Canada (up 26.2%) and South Korea (up 17.8%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported cotton T-shirts purchases were: United Kingdom (down -19.5% from 2022), Belgium (down -14.3%) and Japan (down -5.8%).

T-shirt Imports by Country: Non-Cotton Textiles

Below are the 15 countries that, during 2023, imported the highest dollar value worth of T-shirts made from textile materials other than cotton.

1. United States: US$2 billion (16% of imported non-cotton T-shirts)
2. Germany: $1.3 billion (9.8%)
3. Japan: $789.1 million (6.1%)
4. France: $752.2 million (5.9%)
5. United Kingdom: $666.6 million (5.2%)
6. Spain: $520.7 million (4.1%)
7. Netherlands: $466.7 million (3.6%)
8. Italy: $465.3 million (3.6%)
9. South Korea: $377.4 million (2.9%)
10. Belgium: $321.6 million (2.5%)
11. Canada: $276.9 million (2.2%)
12. Poland: $264.6 million (2.1%)
13. Hong Kong: $216.3 million (1.7%)
14. mainland China: $208.1 million (1.6%)
15. Australia: $204.1 million (1.6%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 68.8% of all non-cotton T-shirts imported in 2023.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for non-cotton T-shirts since 2019 were: Poland (up 27.9%), Italy (up 22.8%), Canada (up 11.1%) and the Netherlands (up 9.8%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported non-cotton T-shirts purchases were led by: Japan (down -26.2% from 2022), Belgium (down -20.3%), United Kingdom (down -16%) and Spain (down -15.8%).

T-shirt Exporting Companies

According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following B2B (business-to-business) companies are examples of international T-shirt suppliers.

• B2B Print SIA (Latvia)
• CIAO Develop Co, Ltd (Taiwan)
• Dongguan Qinghuo Apparel Co, Ltd (China)
• Fashion Mag Trade (Italy)
• Guangzhou Mingmen Garments (China)
• Iniz Solutions (India)
• MONA Trading B2B (Poland)
• OITA Sports Industries (Pakistan)
• Push Top Service & Trading Co Ltd (Vietnam)
• Xiangshan Eco-Friendly Knitting Co (China)

The home-country location for each business is shown within parentheses.
 

See also T-shirt Exports by Country, Top Exported Hats by Country and Top Exported Baby Clothing Sales

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on September 14, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 14, 2024

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 14, 2024