Share of synthetic fibres and yarns in EU industrial textiles use

In 2024, 57% of fibres and yarns used by EU industry were of synthetic origin.

In 2024, the EU produced 3.7 million tonnes of fibres and yarns. Imports amounted to almost 2.0 million tonnes, while exports reached 0.7 million tonnes. This results in an apparent use by industry of approximately 5.1 million tonnes. Compared to 2010, this represents a decrease of around 3%, although use volumes fluctuated significantly over 2010-2024. 57% of fibres and yarns used by EU industry in 2024 were of synthetic origin, corresponding to approximately 2.6 million tonnes.

A closer examination of the trends reveals a shift in the composition of fibres and yarns used by EU industry. Around 2016, the use of synthetic fibres and yarns peaked and has since shown a gradual decline, with a more pronounced drop during the COVID-19 period. After this temporary disruption, the use of synthetic fibres resumed its downward trend. In contrast, the use of non-synthetic fibres and yarns has increased steadily since 2016. This growth is largely driven by increased use of artificial fibres and plant-based fibres other than cotton.

Fibres and yarns are primarily intermediate products used in textile manufacturing. The resulting outputs include both intermediate and finished textile products intended for domestic use within the EU as well as for export.

Overall, the share of synthetic fibres and yarns used in the EU remains substantial, although lower than the global average of 69% reported by Textile Exchange (2025). The observed decline in synthetic fibre use in the EU may indicate a gradual shift in industrial material use. However, this trend should be interpreted with caution, as it may also reflect changes in production structure, trade patterns, or data coverage.

Recent EU policy initiatives, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR, 2024) and the introduction of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles (from 2025) aim to improve the sustainability and circularity of textile products. These policies may contribute to future changes in fibre use, including reduced reliance on difficult to recycle blends of fibres and cheap short-lived synthetic fibres.

Plastics and textiles are identified in the Circular Economy Action Plan as key product value chains requiring targeted action to support the transition to a circular economy. This focus was further developed in the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022), which outlines objectives and measures to improve the sustainability of textile production and consumption.

Synthetic textiles, which are largely derived from fossil-based polymers, are central to this policy context. They are widely used across clothing, footwear, household textiles and a broad range of technical applications, including protective equipment, transport and industrial uses. The EU is a major global player in textile markets, combining significant imports with strong domestic production, particularly in high-value and technical textile segments.

From a circularity perspective, the current system faces important challenges. Around 85% of used textiles end up in mixed waste streams and are subsequently being incinerated or landfilled (EEA, 2025). Synthetic fibres are of particular concern, as they do not biodegrade but persist in the environment as macro-, micro- and nanoplastics unless destroyed through incineration.

In addition, textile products frequently consist of blends of synthetic and non-synthetic fibres, which improves functionality but complicates recycling processes. This limits the potential for high-quality material recovery.

The environmental impacts of textile production and consumption are significant and vary depending on fibre type. Synthetic fibres are associated with fossil resource use, greenhouse gas emissions and microplastic pollution (ETC/WMGE, 2021).

Definition

Synthetic fibres consist of organic (carbon-based) polymers, which are made from fossil fuels. They entail a wide range of fibre types:

Methodology

Use volumes are expressed in tonnes and represent the apparent use of fibres and yarns by EU industry. Apparent use is calculated as: production + imports – exports.

Data are sourced from the Eurostat PRODCOM database.

Fibres and yarns are intermediate products, and their use primarily reflects industrial activity rather than final consumption. Therefore, no direct conclusions can be drawn about the fibre composition of textiles consumed by households.

Fibres and yarns are reported under PRODCOM product groups 13.10 and 20.60. Subcategory 13.10.10 (wool grease) was excluded from total volumes.

To estimate the share of synthetic fibres and yarns, selected subcategories within these groups were classified as synthetic:

· For product group 13.10: 3100, 8110, 8150, 8210, 8250, 8320, 8333, 8336, 8340, 8380, 8390, 83Z0, 8510, 8550;

· For product group 20.60: 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140, 1150, 1190, 1220, 1240, 1260, 1310, 1320, 1330, 1340, 1350, 1390, 1420, 1440.

Production data are based on sold production and may include estimation gaps or potential double counting. For example:

fibres sold to yarn producers may be counted more than once,
fibres directly processed into downstream products may not appear in fibre production data.

Synthetic fabrics are excluded to avoid double counting.

Metadata

Data source: Eurostat PRODCOM

Unit: %

Temporal coverage: 2010 - 2024

Geographic coverage: EU27

Literature

· EEA, Plastic in textiles: towards a circular economy for synthetic textiles in Europe — European Environment Agency (2021)

· ETC/WMGE, Plastic in textiles: potentials for circularity and reduced environmental and climate impacts (2021)

· EEA, Consumption of clothing, footwear, other textiles in the EU reaches new record high | Press releases | European Environment Agency (EEA) (2025)

· Textile Exchange, Materials Market Report (2023)