The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) published its 37th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS) on April 7, 2026. Conducted between March 10ΓÇô19, the survey captures how geopolitical disruptions are reshaping the textile industry across regions and segments. B2B professionals throughout the supply chain now face mounting uncertainty from energy shocks and shifting trade dynamics.
Global Textile Industry Business Climate Deteriorates
The 37th GTIS reveals a sharp downturn in the global textile sector. The global business situation balance fell to -25 percentage points, driven primarily by the US/Israel-Iran war's disruption of energy markets.
Forward-looking sentiment suffered an even steeper decline. The global business expectations balance collapsed from over +23pp to just +5pp, marking the lowest level since November 2022. ITMF warns that stagflation risks now rival those experienced during the post-Ukraine invasion shock of 2022.
Geopolitics Overtakes Weak Demand as Top Concern
For the first time in the survey's history, geopolitics claimed the top spot among textile industry concerns at 50%. Weak demand followed closely at 49%. The war in Iran, surging energy prices, rising raw material costs, and logistics disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade all fueled this shift.
Tariffs dropped sharply as a concern, falling from 31% to just 13%. Companies are responding with two primary strategies:
- Market diversification away from the United States
- Internal cost absorption to offset rising input prices
Capital-intensive measures such as production relocation remain low priorities. Most firms prefer short-term operational adjustments over structural overhauls.
Regional and Segment Performance Diverges
Africa emerged as the only region posting a positive business situation balance. North and Central America recorded the steepest decline among all surveyed regions. In terms of expectations, South America led regional optimism, while South-East Asia reported the most pessimistic outlook.
Performance also varied significantly across textile industry segments:
- Garment producers reported the strongest business situation among all segments
- Textile machinery manufacturers remained deeply negative
- Brands and retailers held the most optimistic expectations
- Weavers and knitters posted the weakest forward-looking sentiment
These divergences show how different parts of the textile value chain absorb geopolitical shocks at varying rates. Downstream players closer to end consumers demonstrate greater resilience than upstream manufacturers. Follow the latest developments on our textile news page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey?
The ITMF GTIS is a periodic survey conducted by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation. It tracks business conditions, expectations, and key concerns across the global textile industry. The 37th edition gathered responses between March 10ΓÇô19, 2026.
Why did geopolitics become the top concern for textile manufacturers?
The US/Israel-Iran war disrupted energy markets, raised raw material costs, and caused logistics bottlenecks through the Strait of Hormuz blockade. These combined pressures pushed geopolitics to 50%, overtaking weak demand at 49% for the first time.
Which regions and segments performed best in the 37th GTIS?
Africa was the only region with a positive business situation. South America led regional optimism in expectations. Among segments, garment producers posted the strongest current performance, while brands and retailers held the most positive outlook.
The 37th ITMF survey signals a critical shift in the global textile industry's risk landscape. Geopolitical disruption has overtaken demand weakness as the sector's primary challenge, prompting manufacturers to accelerate market diversification and tighten cost controls. Industry stakeholders should closely track energy market developments and regional trade realignments as the textile sector navigates heightened uncertainty through the remainder of 2026.
