Overall, the cost of imported knitted or crocheted T-shirts totaled US$48 billion in 2024.

That dollar amount results from a 33.5% average increase for all importing countries from five years earlier in 2020 when international purchases of imported T-shirts cost $35.9 billion.

Year over year, worldwide T-shirt imports grew overall purchases by 5% compared to $45.7 billion during 2023.

From a continental perspective, buyers based in Europe purchased the highest dollar worth of imported T-shirts at $25 billion or over half (52%) of the global total for 2024. In second place were importers in Asia at 21.3% while another 18.4% of T-shirts imported worldwide was delivered to customers in North America.

Smaller percentages went to buyers in Latin America (4.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (2.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then those in Africa (1.9%).

Cotton is the dominant material for T-shirt manufacturing. Cotton T-shirts accounted for $34.2 billion in worldwide purchases or approaching three-quarters (71.2%) of all T-shirts imported during 2024.

Similar apparel made from textiles other than cotton equaled $13.8 billion for the remaining 28.8%.

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 2024.

1. United States: US$6.9 billion (14.4% of total imported T-shirts)
2. Germany: $4.4 billion (9.2%)
3. France: $2.5 billion (5.2%)
4. Japan: $2.24 billion (4.7%)
5. United Kingdom: $2.18 billion (4.5%)
6. Italy: $2.13 billion (4.4%)
7. Spain: $2.09 billion (4.4%)
8. Netherlands: $1.8 billion (3.7%)
9. Poland: $1.6 billion (3.2%)
10. South Korea: $1.07 billion (2.2%)
11. Belgium: $1.05 billion (2.2%)
12. Mexico: $1.01 billion (2.1%)
13. Hong Kong: $976.5 million (2%)
14. mainland China: $953.9 million (2%)
15. Canada: $930.1 million (1.9%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased about two-thirds (66.3%) of all T-shirts imported in 2024.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for T-shirts since 2020 were: Mexico (up 106.1%), Canada (up 61.4%), Poland (up 59.5%) and Italy (up 45.7%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported T-shirts purchases were Belgium (down -8.2% from 2020) and the United Kingdom (down -4%).

T-shirt Imports by Country: Cotton

Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of cotton T-shirts during 2024.

United States: US$4.9 billion (14.5% of imported cotton T-shirts)

Germany: $3 billion (8.8%)

France: $1.73 billion (5%)

Italy: $1.65 billion (4.8%)

Spain: $1.54 billion (4.5%)

United Kingdom: $1.48 billion (4.3%)

Japan: $1.4 billion (4.1%)

Netherlands: $1.3 billion (3.7%)

Poland: $1.2 billion (3.5%)

Hong Kong: $773.4 million (2.3%)

Mexico: $769.9 million (2.3%)

Russia: $766.9 million (2.2%)

mainland China: $733.8 million (2.1%)

Belgium: $730.5 million (2.1%)

South Korea: $673.7 million (2%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 66.4% of all cotton T-shirts imported in 2024.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for cotton T-shirts since 2020 were: Mexico (up 108.9%), Russia (up 77.3%), Poland (up 61.4%) and Italy (up 42.7%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported cotton T-shirts purchases were the United Kingdom (down -9% from 2020) and Belgium (down -6.5%).

T-shirt Imports by Country: Non-Cotton Textiles

Below are the 15 countries that, during 2024, imported the highest dollar value worth of T-shirts made from textile materials other than cotton.

1. United States: US$2 billion (14.2% of imported non-cotton T-shirts)
2. Germany: $1.4 billion (10.1%)
3. Japan: $834.6 million (6%)
4. France: $787.7 million (5.7%)
5. United Kingdom: $696.9 million (5%)
6. Spain: $554.2 million (4%)
7. Netherlands: $531.5 million (3.8%)
8. Italy: $477.9 million (3.5%)
9. South Korea: $401.1 million (2.9%)
10. Poland: $339.4 million (2.5%)
11. Belgium: $322.2 million (2.3%)
12. Canada: $281.2 million (2%)
13. Austria: $254.7 million (1.8%)
14. Mexico: $241 million (1.7%)
15. United Arab Emirates: $227 million (1.6%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 67.4% of all non-cotton T-shirts imported in 2024.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for non-cotton T-shirts since 2020 were: United Arab Emirates (up 118.2%), Mexico (up 100.8%), Italy (up 57.3%) and Poland (up 53.2%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported non-cotton T-shirts purchases were Belgium (down -12% from 2020) and Japan (down -9.9%).

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 October 21, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 21, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 21, 2025