Published in September 2025 by Textile Exchange, the Materials Market Report 2025 provides in-depth insights into global fibre and raw material production, including plant, animal, synthetic, and manmade cellulosic fibres. Since its first release in 2013, the report has become an essential industry reference, offering robust data to help stakeholders monitor progress toward sustainability goals. It compiles verified secondary data from international organisations, research bodies, and standard setters to map material production trends and their environmental implications.

Key Findings and Insights:

1. Record fibre production growth

Global fibre output rose from 125 million tonnes in 2023 to 132 million tonnes in 2024, marking an all-time high. Synthetic fibres, led by polyester, accounted for 69% of total production, underscoring the industry’s heavy reliance on fossil-based materials. Despite commitments aligned with the Paris Agreement, current trends project growth to 169 million tonnes by 2030 if business continues as usual.  

2. Recycled fibres: slow but steady progress

Recycled fibres maintained a 7.6% market share in 2024, with polyester dominating at 6.9%. However, less than 1% of the global fibre market derived from pre- and post-consumer textile recycling. Wool had the second-highest recycled content at 7%, while cotton and manmade cellulosic fibres stood near 1%. Most recycled polyester still originates from plastic bottles rather than textile waste.

3. Material composition and shifts

• Polyester production reached 78 million tonnes (59% market share).
• Cotton decreased slightly to 24.5 million tonnes (19% share).
• Manmade cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) grew to 8.4 million tonnes (6%), with 65 - 70% sourced from FSC or PEFC-certified feedstock.
• Wool, mohair, cashmere, and alpaca together made up less than 1% of global fibre output.

4. Certified and sustainable program uptake

Better Cotton, Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR), and myBMP together accounted for 34% of all virgin cotton production. For mohair, the Responsible Mohair Standard covered 50% of the global market, while Responsible Alpaca Standard reached 7% and Responsible Wool Standard 4.3%. Certification uptake varied across fibres, reflecting ongoing efforts toward greater traceability and responsible sourcing.

5. Emerging alternatives and innovation

The report highlights growing research into biobased and CO₂-derived polyester, as well as chemical recycling for blended textiles. Despite limited scale, these innovations offer potential to reduce dependence on fossil-based synthetics.

The Materials Market Report 2025 reinforces that global fibre production continues to expand, driven largely by virgin synthetics. While recycled content and certified programs are advancing, transformative change remains limited by scale, technology, and data gaps. The report underscores the need for collective industry action to decouple material growth from environmental impact.