Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £3.1bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Lingering cost-of-living pressures drive a fall in fabric and cloth sales
- Downstream clothing retailers are grappling with dwindling consumer demand. According to the Office for National Statistics, in February 2024, six in ten adults are spending less on non-essentials because of cost-of-living troubles, directly impacting spend on discretionary items. This directly impacts the sale of fabric and cloth, which are predominantly used in clothing, household linen and furnishings. Reduced demand for clothing means downstream retailers place fewer orders, thereby diminishing sales of fabric and cloth, which dents industry revenue.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Mounting trade tensions will weigh on industry revenue
- Escalating trade tensions following President Trump’s tariffs threaten industry profitability and revenue. As part of an ongoing trade war, Trump has placed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, according to the BBC, in February 2025. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, China supplied £4.3 billion of the £21.1 billion in textiles imported into the UK in 2024, underscoring the heavy reliance of UK textile wholesalers on Chinese imports. If Chinese manufacturers suffer a loss of demand from the US resulting from the tariffs, they may offset this drop in revenue by raising prices for everyone else, elevating purchase costs for UK textile wholesalers and eating into profit.
Biggest companies in the Textile Wholesaling in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (£m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
Turner Bianca plc | 147.3 | |
Romo Ltd | 67.6 | |
Richard Haworth Ltd | 48.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Yarn, Haberdashery and other textile products, Fabric and cloth and Bed linen. Yarn, Haberdashery and other textile products is the largest segment of the Textile Wholesaling in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Escalating trade tension threatens the costs of imported bed linen
- Textile wholesalers are reliant on the import of bed linen to fulfil domestic demand. According to the World Integrated Trade Solution, the UK imported US$30.8 million (£24.8 million) worth of bed linen in 2023, with exports amounting to US$2.7 million (£2.2 million), highlighting this reliance. Wholesalers have increasingly turned to overseas linen due to its low cost, which has squeezed many domestic textile manufacturers out, widening this trade balance.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies operating in the textile wholesaling industry specialise in selling a wide array of textile products for retailers. These can range from intricate yarns and threads to versatile fabrics and cloth. They also handle household linen items and diverse haberdashery stock.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include Bed linen, Fabric and cloth , Soft furnishings, Household linen, Yarn, Haberdashery and Sacks and bags.Companies
Companies covered in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include Turner Bianca plc, Romo Ltd and Richard Haworth Ltd.Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include soft furnishings, haberdashery and wholesale bypass.Industry Code
SIC 46.41 - Textile Wholesaling in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Luxury wholesalers have fared better due to the higher price points of products. Luxury textiles are often harder to source, discouraging bypass.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Fabric, cloth and home furnishing sales hurt by weak retail demand. Low confidence and incomes have squeezed retailers, hitting wholesalers' orders.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Wholesalers choose to be close to major retailers and distributors. The closer a wholesaler is located to their downstream markets, the quicker they can deliver products.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Wholesale bypass threatens textile wholesalers. Some companies have integrated the distribution of textiles into their organisational structure, erasing the need for textile ...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
No wholesaler has a market share of more than 5%. The sheer volume of wholesalers in the industry and intense competition keep concentration down.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Turner Bianca plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Romo Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Richard Haworth Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Turner Bianca plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Romo Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Richard Haworth Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Products must comply with textile labelling regulations. Wholesalers must ensure that all textiles' materials are accurately detailed in labelling to maintain transparency, c...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The weak pound and supply chain disruptions inflate purchase costs. Most inputs are sourced from abroad, making the industry susceptible to fluctuations in the exchange rate,...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
- Assets (2019-2023)
- Liabilities (2019-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is £3.1bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 2,446 businesses in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom are Turner Bianca plc, Romo Ltd and Richard Haworth Ltd
What does the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include?
Bed linen and Fabric and cloth are part of the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is Turner Bianca plc.
How competitive is the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Textile Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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