Textile and leather: a manufacture machine of 2,8 billion on industrial Top 10

Textile and leather are in the group of the biggest industrial sectors. In 2017, its industrial activity generated a 2.8 billion dollars (2.5 billion euros) in terms of business. That is the equivalent to the 6% of worldwide assembling production, which was valued at 46.2 billion dollars (41.1 billion euros), as stated in Top 100 global manufacturing companies report, published by the market studies company Euromonitor International.

Textile and leather’s global industry is located on the 7h position between the largest manufacturing sectors within the planet. Feeding industry, as well as the beverage and tobacco, are leading the ranking, managing a business value of 7.4 billion dollars (6.6 billion euros) in 2017. Metallurgical industry and technological goods sectors are filling the rest of the ranking’s podium.

Chemical, transport equipment and machinery are the industries which are ranked closely behind the ones occupying the top positions. Shortly after textile and leather sector, there is space for the mining industry, wood and paper sector, pharmaceutical, and plastic and rubber businesses.  

However, the report is also stating the fragmentation on textile and leather sector, because Nike is the only company that represents the sector on the hundred biggest industrial companies’ ranking. In fact, the American company is located at position 82. On the contrary, automotive and technology are the sectors filling the majority of positions within the ranking, with 44 companies of that business located in all.

Automotive sector’s companies Toyota and Volkswagen are continuing to lead this ranking, alongside with Korean corporation Samsung Electronics, the German firm Daimler and American company Ford Motor. This edition of the study has also put the Taiwanese technology company Hon Hai Precision and Chinese automotive Saic Motor in their Top 10.  

In line with the report, business concentration is moving fast within the industrial area. That way, in 2017 the hundred biggest manufacture companies on the planet were rounding the 90% of the volume of business within the sector, while in 2010 the proportion had been just around the 80%.

China, Bangladesh or India, where textile and leather industry companies are mostly located, have also no appearance on the biggest world’s industries by geographical distribution ranking. The US and Japan are heading this list without a strong opposition, due to their industrial giants’ contribution to the economy.

The report also points that the most advanced economies are increasing their bid for industrial diversification, activity and product, focusing on greater added value sectors, as the automotive sector, the aerospace industry and electronics, capable of absorbing higher production costs.

China, nevertheless, is rapidly moving forward as a global influence industrial hub. Between 2010 and 2017, the Asian giant has increased twice its companies within the ranking, based on the domestic demand, the government support on R & D politics and the internationalization take-off.