Overall, the cost of imported knitted or crocheted T-shirts totaled US$42.9 billion in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a 12.1% increase for all importing countries since 2017 when international purchases of T-shirts cost $38.3 billion.

Year over year, worldwide T-shirt imports accelerated in overall cost by 19.8% compared to $35.8 billion during 2020.

From a continental perspective, buyers in Europe purchased the highest dollar worth of imported T-shirts at $22.3 billion or 52% of the global total for 2021. In second place were importers in North America at 20.6% while another 19.8% of T-shirts imported worldwide was delivered to customers in Asia.

Smaller percentages went to Latin America (3.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (2.2%) mostly Australia and New Zealand, and Africa (1.8%).

Cotton is the dominant material for T-shirt manufacturing. Cotton T-shirts accounted for $31.2 billion in worldwide purchases or approaching three-quarters (72.6%) of all T-shirts imported during 2021. Similar apparel made from textiles other than cotton equaled $11.7 billion for the remaining 27.4%.

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 2021.

1. United States: US$7.4 billion (17.2% of total imported T-shirts)
2. Germany: $4.4 billion (10.2%)
3. France: $2.4 billion (5.6%)
4. United Kingdom: $2.3 billion (5.3%)
5. Japan: $2.1 billion (4.8%)
6. Spain: $1.71 billion (4%)
7. Italy: $1.69 billion (3.9%)
8. Netherlands: $1.6 billion (3.7%)
9. Belgium: $1.19 billion (2.8%)
10. Poland: $1.15 billion (2.7%)
11. China: $1.12 billion (2.6%)
12. South Korea: $935.4 million (2.2%)
13. Hong Kong: $800.7 million (1.9%)
14. Austria: $776 million (1.8%)
15. Australia: $774.7 million (1.8%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 70.5% of all T-shirts imported in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for T-shirts since 2017 were: Poland (up 86.8%), mainland China (up 71%), South Korea (up 28.2%) and the United States of America (up 26.5%).

Those countries that posted declines in their purchases of imported T-shirts were led by: Hong Kong (down -17.2%), United Kingdom (down -12.4%), Spain (down -9.9%) and Japan (down -6%).

T-shirt Imports by Country: Cotton

Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of cotton T-shirts during 2021.

United States: US$5.3 billion (17.1% of imported cotton T-shirts)

Germany: $3.1 billion (10.1%)

France: $1.71 billion (5.5%)

United Kingdom: $1.68 billion (5.4%)

Italy: $1.4 billion (4.4%)

Japan: $1.28 billion (4.1%)

Spain: $1.28 billion (4.1%)

Netherlands: $1.16 billion (3.7%)

Poland: $908 million (2.9%)

Belgium: $866.5 million (2.8%)

China: $855.8 million (2.7%)

Hong Kong: $640.7 million (2.1%)

South Korea: $609.8 million (2%)

Russia: $587.9 million (1.9%)

Mexico: $583.5 million (1.9%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 70.6% of all cotton T-shirts imported in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for cotton T-shirts since 2017 were: Poland (up 104%), mainland China (up 99.5%), Mexico (up 87.9%) and South Korea (up 60.2%).

A pair of leading buyers posted declines in their purchases of imported cotton T-shirts, namely Hong Kong (down -13%) and the United Kingdom (down -0.1%).

T-shirt Imports by Country: Non-Cotton Textiles

Below are the 15 countries that, during 2021, imported the highest dollar value worth of T-shirts made from textile materials other than cotton.

1. United States: US$2.1 billion (17.6% of imported non-cotton T-shirts)
2. Germany: $1.2 billion (10.6%)
3. Japan: $786 million (6.7%)
4. France: $692 million (5.9%)
5. United Kingdom: $578.1 million (4.9%)
6. Netherlands: $436.9 million (3.7%)
7. Spain: $426.7 million (3.6%)
8. South Korea: $325.6 million (2.8%)
9. Belgium: $320.9 million (2.7%)
10. Italy: $317.9 million (2.7%)
11. China: $259.7 million (2.2%)
12. Poland: $244 million (2.1%)
13. Canada: $228.7 million (1.9%)
14. Austria: $228.3 million (1.9%)
15. United Arab Emirates: $227.9 million (1.9%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 71.3% of all non-cotton T-shirts imported in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for non-cotton T-shirts since 2017 were: Poland (up 42.1%), United Arab Emirates (up 18.4%), mainland China (up 16.3%) and the United States of America (up 8.4%).

Those countries that posted declines in their purchases of imported non-cotton T-shirts were led by: United Kingdom (down -35.5%), Spain (down -33.8%), Italy (down -30.8%) and Japan (down -25.5%).

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 1, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 1, 2022

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 1, 2022