Textile industry in Taiwan

In 1949, Taiwan had 10,000 cotton spindles. In 1954, the Ministry of Economic Affairs established a committee to establish plans for textile industry. In 1964, it grew to 500,000, making the cotton textiles industry the fastest growing industry in Taiwan at that time.[1] Decades later with the growing petrochemical industry, man-made fiber dominated the field.[2]

In the 21st century Taiwan’s textile industry shifted towards technical textiles, a global market which Taiwan had captured 70% of by 2018.[3]

As of 1965, the industry paid a total tax of NT$240 million to the government. In 2015, the total value of textile production in Taiwan was NT$409.3 billion.[2]

The export value of textile industries was US$44 million in 1963 in which 80% of it was cottons. Major exporting countries or regions were British Hong Kong, Iran, Latin America, South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States.[1] In 2015, textile exports amounted NT$10.8 billion and imports amounted NT$3.46 billion. In 2014, Taiwan was the 7th largest exporting countries for clothing products. Major importing countries or regions were Indonesia, Japan, United States and Vietnam.[2] In 2019, Taiwan became the fourth largest surplus industry.

In 1965, Taiwan had 24 cotton textile mills. The numbers then grew to 4,300 in 2015.[1][2] In 2019, there were roughly around 4,255 textile factories.

Around 75% of domestic yarn production is used for clothing production.[1]

The textile industry employed around 35,000 people in 1965 and in 2015 it employed 140,000 people.[1]

The Taiwan Textile Research Institute is the government-funded research institute in Taiwan in textile industry.