Knitting Machines Market Size & Share 2026-2035

Knitting Machines Market Size

The global knitting machines market was valued at USD 5.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 9.4 billion by 2035, expanding at a 5.7% CAGR from 2026 to 2035. The market is forecast to grow from USD 5.7 billion in 2026, following a 4.7% historical CAGR during 2022-2025. ^[1] Demand is increasingly tied to machinery that can shorten sampling cycles, stabilize repeatability, and produce differentiated fabrics at industrial scale rather than to incremental additions of conventional capacity alone.

Automation is changing the operating economics of knitting production. Documented Industry 4.0 knitting trials have reported production-time efficiency gains of approximately 27%, illustrating the value of linking machine control, production data, and planning workflows. ^{[2]IRIS Publishers, Novel Knitting Model Based on Automation and Industry 4.0. irispublishers.com} Intelligent automation is being applied across apparel, technical-textile, and automotive-textile production, where fabric complexity, defect prevention, and lot consistency affect both throughput and qualification outcomes.

The commercial case for automation differs by machine architecture. Computerized flat-bed and circular systems can remove manual component-handling steps, allowing production to proceed with fewer intervention points and more consistent execution of programmed designs. Shima Seiki's installed base of more than 200,000 machines, including more than 10,000 WHOLEGARMENT machines, reflects how whole-garment production, virtual sampling, and proprietary software have become interdependent capabilities rather than isolated equipment features.

Key Drivers

Athleisure and sportswear demand is supporting investment in circular and seamless knitting platforms that can produce stretch fabrics, engineered zones, and garment constructions suited to performance apparel. This demand is not limited to additional machine volume: it favors producers able to change patterns quickly and maintain fabric consistency across high-volume programs. Circular knitting machinery therefore remains central to sportswear supply chains, while seamless systems create a route to reduce cut-and-sew steps for selected garment categories. ^{[3]ITMF / Textile World, Global Textile Machinery Shipments Show Mixed Performance in 2024. itmf.org}

Automation and Industry 4.0 integration are reinforcing this shift. Connected knitting workflows can combine design data, machine settings, and production monitoring, making the technology particularly relevant where manufacturers operate many small batches or manage frequent design revisions. The practical benefit is not merely higher speed; it is reduced execution variability between digital design intent and factory output.

Reshoring and smart-manufacturing investment are also influencing demand in North America and Europe. In higher-cost production locations, automated equipment can make shorter production runs more feasible by reducing manual handling and by improving the ability to coordinate design, sampling, and production closer to customers. This favors suppliers that can support installation, software integration, and machine uptime after delivery.

Key Restraints

High capital expenditure remains the principal constraint on adoption of advanced knitting systems. Fully automated platforms require more than an equipment purchase: buyers may also need operator training, digital-design capability, spare-parts coverage, and changes to workflow design. That broadens the investment hurdle for manufacturers in South Asia, Latin America, and Africa, where a machine's financing terms and serviceability can be as decisive as its technical specification.

Raw-material price volatility creates a separate, short-cycle constraint. When yarn and fiber costs move sharply, textile producers may defer machinery commitments while protecting working capital, particularly when demand visibility is limited. This effect can slow orders even where the long-term automation rationale remains intact, because machine investment competes with inventory funding and customer-price negotiations.

Knitting Machines Market Segment Analysis

By Type

Weft knitting machines generated USD 3.67 billion in 2025 and accounted for 67.9% of global revenue, compared with USD 1.73 billion for warp knitting machines, or 32.1%. Within weft knitting, circular machines represented USD 1.91 billion, or 52.1% of weft-machine revenue, while straight bar or flat machines contributed USD 1.39 billion, or 37.9%. Circular platforms are favored for high-volume sportswear and seamless garment production because they support efficient output of tubular or body-conforming constructions. ^{[4]Innovation in Textiles, China still out in front in adding capacity. innovationintextiles.com}

Global shipment data reinforces the concentration of circular-knitting investment in Asian production networks. ITMF recorded 10,786 shipments of large circular knitting machines in 2024, with India and Vietnam ranking as the second- and third-largest destinations. In 2025, global circular-knitting shipments reached 24,500 units, of which Asia and Oceania accounted for 86%; India received 4,100 units and Vietnam 1,800. These volumes indicate that demand is being reinforced by capacity investment in major garment-exporting economies rather than solely by replacement demand in mature markets.

Warp knitting machines remain strategically important in applications where fabric structure and technical performance matter more than garment-style frequency. Raschel systems represented USD 0.77 billion, or 44.7% of warp-machine revenue, followed by tricot machines at USD 0.57 billion, or 33.2%. Karl Mayer's warp-knitting applications, including spacer fabrics and engineered structures for automotive interiors, illustrate why raschel platforms retain relevance in technical textiles even as weft machinery leads total market value. ^{[5]Karl Mayer, Double presence at the leading trade fair. karlmayer.com}

By Knit Type

Single-knit machines accounted for USD 3.35 billion, or 62.1% of the market in 2025, while double-knit machines represented USD 2.05 billion, or 37.9%. The larger single-knit position reflects broad demand for lightweight apparel, sportswear, and basic textile applications. Double-knit systems retain a differentiated role where dimensional stability, fabric thickness, or two-sided construction is required.

By Mode of Operation

Fully automatic equipment accounted for USD 3.88 billion and 71.9% of 2025 revenue, substantially ahead of semi-automatic machines at USD 1.19 billion, or 22.1%, and manual machines at USD 0.32 billion, or 6.0%. The distribution reflects a secular move toward programmable production and lower dependence on repetitive manual steps. Systems such as STOLL knitrobotic demonstrate the direction of travel: component insertion can be automated within the knitting process, reducing the need for manual handling in relevant flat-knitting applications.

By End Use Industry

Apparel textiles led end-use demand with USD 2.32 billion, representing 42.9% of market revenue and a projected 6.0% CAGR. Home textiles followed at USD 1.23 billion, or 22.8%, while automotive textiles accounted for USD 0.73 billion, or 13.5%. Sports and athleisure textiles represented USD 0.61 billion, or 11.4%, and other applications, including medical, geotextile, and defense uses, generated USD 0.51 billion, or 9.5%. Automotive and technical applications matter disproportionately to machinery specification because they often require traceable quality, specialized structures, and customer qualification cycles that can support investment in higher-capability warp and circular systems.

By Distribution Channel

Direct sales accounted for USD 3.26 billion, or 60.2% of market revenue in 2025, compared with USD 2.14 billion, or 39.8%, through indirect sales. Large industrial buyers commonly prefer direct engagement when machine configuration, bulk pricing, commissioning, operator training, and after-sales service are integral to the purchase decision. Indirect channels remain relevant where local distribution, parts availability, and access to smaller textile producers determine market reach.

Knitting Machines Market Regional Analysis

North America

North America generated USD 1.55 billion in 2025, representing 28.6% of the global market, and is projected to grow at a 5.6% CAGR through 2035. The United States accounted for USD 1.28 billion, or 82.7% of regional revenue. Demand is supported by automation-oriented production strategies, performance-apparel programs, and the economic case for reducing manual handling in higher-cost manufacturing environments. Canada remains a relevant regional market for specialized textile and apparel production, although the United States drives the region's scale.

Europe

Europe accounted for USD 1.39 billion in 2025, or 25.7% of global revenue, and is forecast to expand at a 5.4% CAGR. Germany generated USD 260 million and remains an important machinery-development center through companies such as Karl Mayer and Mayer & Cie. The UK, France, Italy, and Spain contribute through fashion, technical-textile, and specialized manufacturing ecosystems. European demand is particularly aligned with energy efficiency, digital design, and advanced textile applications, where machine capability can be evaluated against both operating costs and compliance-oriented product requirements.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific was the largest regional market, valued at USD 1.92 billion in 2025 and accounting for 35.6% of global revenue. It is also projected to post the fastest growth, at a 6.2% CAGR. Shipment patterns substantiate the region's central role: Asia and Oceania received 86% of global circular-knitting-machine shipments in 2025. China accounted for 82% of global flat-knitting-machine shipments in 2024 and 53% of global circular-knitting-machine shipments in 2025, equivalent to 11,700 units.

India is becoming a more consequential demand center for knitting machinery. The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Textiles had 170 participants with committed investment of ₹41,533 crore, and the minimum investment threshold for certain MMF and technical-textile categories was reduced to ₹150 crore in August 2025. Karl Mayer reports having installed approximately 1,500 warp-knitting machines in India over 15 years and estimates its share of India's warp-knitting market at 60-70%. ^[6] These developments favor machinery suppliers able to address both apparel capacity and technically oriented textile investment.

Bangladesh and Vietnam reinforce regional demand through export-oriented apparel production. The Asian Development Bank signed USD 40 million in financing with Ananta Knitwear Limited in June 2024 to support an automated knit-fabric factory in Bangladesh. Vietnam surpassed Bangladesh as the world's second-largest apparel-textile exporter, reporting USD 44 billion in textile and apparel revenue in 2024, up 11%, and ranked third globally for circular-knitting-machine shipments in both 2024 and 2025. Japan remains technologically significant through Shima Seiki, headquartered in Wakayama, which reported consolidated sales of ¥33.5 billion for fiscal 2026. Shima Seiki has developed WHOLEGARMENT technology since 1995, with more than 22 million WHOLEGARMENT product tags reported as of January 2025 ^{[7]Shima Seiki, WHOLEGARMENT Business. shimaseiki.com}.

Latin America

Latin America generated USD 0.25 billion in 2025, representing 4.6% of global revenue, and is forecast to grow at a 4.1% CAGR. Brazil is projected to expand at a 4.4% CAGR, while Mexico accounted for 22.3% of regional revenue. Demand in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina is influenced by domestic apparel production, regional supply-chain strategies, and affordability constraints that can favor phased automation rather than immediate replacement with premium automated systems.

Middle East and Africa

The Middle East and Africa market was valued at USD 0.32 billion in 2025, accounting for 5.9% of global revenue, and is projected to grow at a 5.0% CAGR. South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE provide the principal regional demand centers. Growth potential is linked to textile-manufacturing development and localized production initiatives, but high capital requirements and technical-service availability remain material constraints for advanced-machine adoption.

Europe and North America are likely to compete on a different basis. Their machinery demand is more closely tied to technical fabrics, high-value apparel, automation-led reshoring, and energy-conscious production. That distinction means suppliers cannot apply one regional sales model globally. High-growth Asian markets require scale, local service, and application flexibility, while mature regions reward demonstrable productivity, digital integration, and performance in specialized textile programs.

Knitting Machines Market Share & Competitive Landscape

The market is moderately fragmented, with the five leading companies - Shima Seiki, Karl Mayer, Mayer & Cie, Santoni, and Pai Lung - collectively accounting for approximately 35% of global revenue. Karl Mayer is the market leader with an estimated 6% share. Competition is shaped by machine specialization, digital capability, energy performance, and the ability to support customers after installation rather than by equipment price alone.

Karl Mayer competes through its position in warp knitting and digital patterning. Its HKS 3-M ON PLUS uses the ON pattern drive to enable electronically patterned warp knitting with unlimited repeat lengths and a broader fabric spectrum that includes shoe textiles, net-like fabrics, and square marquisettes. At ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, the company also presented double-raschel spacer fabrics for automotive seat upholstery and mattresses, positioning mono-material structures as a route toward more circular product design. Through STOLL knitrobotic, Karl Mayer also addresses flat-knitting automation by eliminating manual labor associated with component insertion in relevant production processes.

Shima Seiki's competitive position combines knitting machinery with digital product-development tools. Its WHOLEGARMENT systems and SDS-ONE APEX platform link 3D virtual sampling, knit-program development, and AI-assisted design features, making the company relevant to buyers seeking to reduce physical sampling and improve design-to-production continuity.

Mayer & Cie focuses on circular knitting productivity, energy efficiency, and quality control. The Relanit 3.2 HS is a high-speed single-jersey machine with relative technology designed to reduce energy consumption and support up to four needle tracks. The Relanit 3.2 HS II adds Control 5.0 and spring-sinker technology to further reduce energy use and associated CO2 emissions. Its Knithawk system uses an infrared camera to identify defects at the knitting point in real time and stop the machine when a defect is detected, turning quality monitoring into a direct machine-control function.

Santoni's seamless portfolio addresses underwear, outerwear, and sportswear applications. The SM8-TOP2V and SM8-TOP2ST use eight feeds and two-point needle-by-needle selection per feed, while the SM8-TOP2ST adds selective terry capability and X2Q Dinema electronics with a brushless motor. Santoni presented the platform at ITMA 2023 with claimed productivity improvement of 30% and energy reduction of 15% compared with its predecessor. Pai Lung competes through computerized flat and circular knitting equipment, including IC2J and IC2TJ full-jacquard machines for intarsia and jacquard designs.

The competitive set also includes Flying Tiger, Fukuhara, Hanma (Zhenfu), Jingwei Textile Machinery, Lamb, Lisky, Lonati, Orizio, Terrot, and Tompkins. Their market roles span circular, flat, seamless, hosiery, and specialized knitting applications, sustaining competitive pressure across regional customer segments and machine-price tiers.

Recent Industry Developments

• March 2026: SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. joined CLO Virtual Fashion's CLO Ecosystem Partnership Program on March 17, 2026. The collaboration connects APEXFiz® 3D knit-design software with CLO's 3D garment-simulation platform, and an APEXFiz Integration Plugin for one-click material-data exchange was scheduled for release in April 2026.
• October 2024: At ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 in Shanghai, Karl Mayer showcased the HKS 3-M ON PLUS, featuring unlimited pattern-repeat capability through the ON pattern drive. The company also presented double-raschel spacer fabrics for automotive upholstery and mattresses as mono-material-oriented applications.
• April 2024: Mayer & Cie. CN Changzhou LLC began circular knitting-machine production at a new 5,000-square-meter facility in Jintan, Jiangsu Province, China. The facility produces machines for the domestic market using locally qualified components.
• October 2025: At ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, Pai Lung unveiled an electronic jacquard circular knitting machine incorporating AI-powered fabric-defect detection, digital production management, and automatic calibration. The company stated that the system reduced setup time from several hours to less than 30 minutes.