Thread Market Report 2026

The thread market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $18.3 billion in 2025 to $19.15 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to labor-intensive textile production reliance, conventional cotton dominance in manufacturing, limited synthetic thread adoption, manual sewing and stitching practices, regional textile cluster expansion.

The thread market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $23.18 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for high-performance industrial threads, expansion of automotive and medical textile applications, shift toward lightweight durable materials, rising global apparel consumption, growth of export-led textile supply chains. Major trends in the forecast period include rising demand for high-performance industrial sewing threads in apparel manufacturing, increasing adoption of antimicrobial and medical-grade stitching threads in healthcare applications, growth in decorative and premium embroidery threads across fashion industries, expansion of automotive upholstery and airbag stitching thread applications, rising usage of blended fiber threads for enhanced durability and flexibility in textile products.

Rising demand from the textiles and apparel sector is anticipated to drive the expansion of the thread market in the coming years.Textiles and apparel denote the wide-ranging industry that includes the production, design, and distribution of fabrics, garments, and accessories utilized for personal, commercial, or industrial applications.The rising demand from the textiles and apparel sector is fueled by growing consumer inclination toward high-quality, durable, and innovative fabric materials, as consumers increasingly look for long-lasting, comfortable, and stylish clothing that delivers enhanced performance and sustainability.Thread reinforces the textiles and apparel industry by supplying a crucial material for stitching and fabric assembly.It enhances garment durability, improves finish quality, and increases overall manufacturing efficiency.For instance, in June 2024, according to the International Trade Administration, a US-based government agency, imports of textiles and apparel for the year-to-date period ending in April 2024 reached 30.09 billion square meter equivalents (MSME), representing a 9.5% rise compared to the same period in 2023.Therefore, the rising demand from the textiles and apparel industry is propelling the growth of the thread market.

Major companies operating in the thread market are focusing on developing innovative products, such as elastic recycled threads, to meet sustainability goals while maintaining high performance standards. An elastic recycled thread is a sewing filament made from recycled polymer materials designed to provide stretchability and resilience in textile applications. For instance, in May 2025, a Switzerland-based industrial thread manufacturer launched Sabaflex Recycled, a sustainable elastic thread. The product utilizes 100% recycled Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and is certified under the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), ensuring compliance with sustainability benchmarks. It delivers high elasticity and durability, making it suitable for performance apparel such as sportswear and outdoor garments. Additionally, the thread is engineered to maintain consistent stretch and recovery even after repeated washing and prolonged use. Its compatibility with modern textile manufacturing processes allows seamless integration into knitting and weaving operations without compromising efficiency. Furthermore, the product supports brands in meeting circular economy targets by reducing reliance on virgin materials and lowering the overall environmental footprint of textile production.

In June 2025, The Michaels Companies Inc., a US-based arts and crafts retail company, acquired the intellectual property and private label brands of JOANN Inc. for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Michaels aims to expand its product portfolio and strengthen its position in the fabric, sewing, yarn, and thread-related crafts market while attracting JOANN’s existing customer base. JOANN is a US-based provider of fabrics, sewing supplies, yarn, thread, and other crafting materials.

Major companies operating in the thread market are American & Efird LLC, Coats Group plc, Gunze Limited, Amann Group, Threads (India) Limited, Dollfus-Mieg & Compagnie (DMC), Guangzhou Hengxin Thread Co. Ltd., FUJIX Ltd., Huamei Thread Co. Ltd., A&E Gütermann, Durak Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., HP Threads, Fil-Tec Inc., The Thread Exchange Inc., Gunold GmbH, Champion Thread Company, Somac Threads Limited, Superior Threads Inc., KDS Thread Ltd., Modi Threads International, Shishi Flying Wheel Thread Co. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the thread market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the thread market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the thread market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The thread market consists of sales of viscose thread, rayon thread, acrylic thread, wool thread, polyester-cotton blended thread, high-tenacity thread, conductive thread, elastic thread, metallic thread, and embroidery thread. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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