Manufacture of textiles: the largest employers in East Flanders
As of 14 Nov 2026, 110 companies in Manufacture of textiles (NACE 13) in East Flanders report employees in recent accounts (financial years 2023 to 2026). The 10 largest employers account for 2,483.6 FTE, out of 4,268.6 for all of them; median headcount is 7 FTE. Utexbel leads with 637.5 FTE (financial year 2025).
Top 50 · Manufacture of textiles · East Flanders
Ranked by average headcount (FTE) reported in the latest filed accounts (accounts less than 3 years old).
| # | Company | Total assets | Revenue | Equity | FTE | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utexbel 9600 Ronse | €93.2m | €124.1m | €33.8m | 637.5 | 2025 |
| 2 | BFS Europe NV 9770 Kruisem | €67.8m | €130.2m | €14.1m | 407.8 | 2025 |
| 3 | Associated Weavers Europe 9600 Ronse | €69.0m | €127.3m | €20.9m | 367.5 | 2025 |
| 4 | Tarkett 9200 Dendermonde | €54.6m | €94.3m | €14.1m | 259.1 | 2025 |
| 5 | IFG Exelto 9052 Ghent | €10.0m | €43.4m | €4.83m | 227.3 | 2025 |
| 6 | Modulyss 9240 Zele | €15.1m | €51.8m | €1.62m | 132.5 | 2025 |
| 7 | Bexco 9220 Hamme (Vl.) | €49.6m | €40.0m | €15.4m | 121.6 | 2025 |
| 8 | Milliken Textiles 9000 Ghent | €18.9m | €22.1m | €8.25m | 112.1 | 2025 |
| 9 | Marcel Liebaert 9800 Deinze | €16.9m | €14.8m | €10.3m | 110.0 | 2025 |
| 10 | Bekintex NV 9230 Wetteren | €23.6m | €31.9m | −€10.3m | 108.2 | 2025 |
| 11 | Sports and Leisure Group 9100 Sint-Niklaas | €84.6m | €88.6m | €27.2m | 104.1 | 2025 |
| 12 | Prestige Carpets 9600 Ronse | €13.9m | €53.4m | €7.38m | 102.5 | 2025 |
| 13 | Eaton Filtration 9100 Sint-Niklaas | €11.7m | €15.2m | €8.52m | 91.4 | 2024 |
| 14 | Balta Oudenaarde 9700 Oudenaarde | €58.0m | €21.6m | €52.2m | 85.3 | 2026 |
| 15 | B.I.G. Yarns Europe 9770 Kruisem | €40.1m | €57.8m | €21.4m | 84.2 | 2025 |
| 16 | Hunter Douglas Belgium 9160 Lokeren | €53.3m | €35.4m | €25.2m | 79.9 | 2025 |
| 17 | Bontexgeo 9240 Zele | €54.8m | €41.6m | €30.2m | 78.5 | 2025 |
| 18 | Saint-Gobain Adfors Belgium 9255 Buggenhout | €22.5m | €22.3m | €19.0m | 77.9 | 2025 |
| 19 | Milliken Europe 9000 Ghent | €124.9m | €146.4m | €98.5m | 75.4 | 2025 |
| 20 | ECA 9960 Assenede | €149.6m | €14.4m | €140.2m | 75.2 | 2025 |
| 21 | Somnis Bedding 9160 Lokeren | €12.3m | €21.8m | €4.65m | 57.4 | 2025 |
| 22 | B & T Textilia 9950 Lievegem | €18.3m | €19.9m | €15.0m | 54.5 | 2025 |
| 23 | Belgian Bedding 9500 Geraardsbergen | €9.26m | €5.04m | €1.30m | 47.9 | 2025 |
| 24 | Gevaert Bandweverij 9800 Deinze | €2.55m | — | €1.01m | 44.4 | 2025 |
| 25 | Velcro Belgium 9800 Deinze | €8.26m | €13.7m | €5.98m | 42.4 | 2025 |
| 26 | Insulcon N.V. 9140 Temse | €3.00m | — | €1.54m | 40.5 | 2025 |
| 27 | Boelaert & Moens 9550 Herzele | €7.59m | — | €5.43m | 39.2 | 2025 |
| 28 | Seyntex 9880 Aalter | €75.1m | €128.8m | €44.8m | 33.8 | 2026 |
| 29 | Cousy 9620 Zottegem | €1.41m | — | 618,646 € | 32.9 | 2025 |
| 30 | Tiscotex 9220 Hamme (Vl.) | €6.72m | — | €3.31m | 31.0 | 2025 |
| 31 | Texla 9100 Sint-Niklaas | €3.88m | €11.0m | €2.38m | 26.9 | 2025 |
| 32 | Flanders Fashion Design International 9850 Deinze | €2.28m | — | −€1.24m | 25.4 | 2025 |
| 33 | Alpani 9600 Ronse | €6.09m | — | €3.98m | 21.0 | 2025 |
| 34 | Van Riel 9140 Temse | €3.57m | — | 781,985 € | 20.7 | 2025 |
| 35 | Corbeo 9240 Zele | €3.05m | — | €1.80m | 19.0 | 2025 |
| 36 | Pieters - van de Velde 9080 Lochristi | €2.00m | — | 542,433 € | 18.9 | 2025 |
| 37 | Nelen & Delbeke 9770 Kruisem | €4.19m | — | €1.52m | 18.2 | 2025 |
| 38 | Soieries Elite 9660 Brakel | €1.09m | — | 239,933 € | 17.0 | 2025 |
| 39 | Sampli 9660 Brakel | €3.71m | — | €2.73m | 16.3 | 2025 |
| 40 | VdS WEAVING 9700 Oudenaarde | €4.13m | — | €3.43m | 15.5 | 2025 |
| 41 | Indecor de Pauw 9140 Temse | €1.80m | — | 706,094 € | 15.2 | 2025 |
| 42 | Melapret 9140 Temse | €2.27m | — | €1.72m | 13.7 | 2025 |
| 43 | Vanotex 9800 Deinze | €6.13m | — | €4.16m | 12.7 | 2025 |
| 44 | Dierickx Visschers 9240 Zele | €7.30m | — | €4.50m | 11.8 | 2025 |
| 45 | Exsil 9200 Dendermonde | €5.76m | €13.0m | €3.74m | 11.3 | 2025 |
| 46 | Fabric 9810 Nazareth | 647,843 € | — | 314,959 € | 9.5 | 2025 |
| 47 | Belgian Mats 9160 Lokeren | €5.08m | — | 843,623 € | 8.9 | 2025 |
| 48 | Sabess 9100 Sint-Niklaas | €1.06m | — | 98,918 € | 8.8 | 2025 |
| 49 | Waesland 9100 Sint-Niklaas | €1.21m | — | −519,393 € | 8.6 | 2025 |
| 50 | Nilorn Belgium 9090 Merelbeke-Melle | €2.76m | €2.07m | €2.10m | 8.4 | 2025 |
Ranking based on each company's own annual accounts (statutory, not consolidated): a subsidiary and its parent appear separately, and the ranking differs from lists based on consolidated group accounts. Headcount reported by the company for all its sites: the jobs may be located elsewhere.
“—”: not published. Small companies (micro and abridged accounts) do not have to publish their revenue.
Manufacture of textiles across Belgium → All sectors · East Flanders →
Other sectors · East Flanders
- 01 Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities376
- 02 Forestry and logging14
- 10 Manufacture of food products536
- 11 Manufacture of beverages40
- 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel33
- 16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials115
- 17 Manufacture of paper and paper products41
- 18 Printing and reproduction of recorded media115
- 20 Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products105
- 21 Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations22
- 22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products86
- 23 Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products148
- 24 Manufacture of basic metals36
- 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment429
- 26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products51
- 27 Manufacture of electrical equipment56
- 28 Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.155
- 29 Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers37
- 30 Manufacture of other transport equipment12
- 31 Manufacture of furniture113
- 32 Other manufacturing70
- 33 Repair, maintenance and installation of machinery and equipment146
- 35 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply24
- 37 Sewerage21
- 38 Waste collection, recovery and disposal activities87
- 41 Construction of residential and non-residential buildings824
- 42 Civil engineering353
- 43 Specialised construction activities2,546
- 46 Wholesale trade2,074
- 47 Retail trade2,478
- 49 Land transport and transport via pipelines738
- 50 Water transport18
- 52 Warehousing, storage and support activities for transportation163
- 53 Postal and courier activities27
- 55 Accommodation147
- 56 Food and beverage service activities1,693
- 58 Publishing activities71
- 59 Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities72
- 61 Telecommunication15
- 62 Computer programming, consultancy and related activities686
- 63 Computing infrastructure, data processing, hosting and other information service activities42
- 64 Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding530
- 66 Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities435
- 68 Real estate activities595
- 69 Legal and accounting activities695
- 70 Activities of head offices and management consultancy557
- 71 Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis442
- 72 Scientific research and development71
- 73 Activities of advertising, market research and public relations151
- 74 Other professional, scientific and technical activities79
- 75 Veterinary activities64
- 77 Rental and leasing activities114
- 78 Employment activities76
- 79 Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities63
- 80 Investigation and security activities10
- 81 Services to buildings and landscape activities378
- 82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities183
- 84 Public administration and defence; compulsory social security13
- 85 Education120
- 86 Human health activities769
- 87 Residential care activities115
- 88 Social work activities without accommodation138
- 90 Arts creation and performing arts activities71
- 92 Gambling and betting activities18
- 93 Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities182
- 94 Activities of membership organisations73
- 95 Repair and maintenance of computers, personal and household goods, and motor vehicles and motorcycles216
- 96 Personal service activities306
Municipalities with the most companies in the sector · East Flanders
- 9800 Deinze (Astene, Bachte-Maria-Leerne, Gottem, …)13
- 9100 Sint-Niklaas (Nieuwkerken-Waas)12
- 9700 Oudenaarde (Bevere, Edelare, Eine, …)9
- 9200 Dendermonde (Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, …)8
- 9600 Ronse (Renaix)8
- 9000 Ghent7
- 9240 Zele7
- 9140 Temse (Elversele, Steendorp, Tielrode)6
- 9160 Lokeren (Daknam, Eksaarde)5
- 9500 Geraardsbergen (Goeferdinge, Moerbeke, Nederboelare, …)5
- 9220 Hamme (Vl.) (Hamme, Moerzeke)4
- 9300 Aalst4
Frequently asked questions
Which is the largest employer in Manufacture of textiles in East Flanders?
Among companies, Utexbel, with 637.5 full-time equivalents reported (financial year 2025).
Are all the jobs located in the area?
Not necessarily: headcount is reported by the company for all its sites, and the company is ranked by the address of its registered office. 110 out of 183 companies in the sector report employees there.
Why does this ranking differ from other lists?
It uses each company's annual accounts as filed with the National Bank, not consolidated group accounts. A holding, a subsidiary or a purchasing entity can therefore appear separately. Only companies whose latest accounts are less than 3 years old are ranked.
Analyse companies · East Flanders
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Open the full file →Active companies (legal entities) that have filed at least one set of annual accounts, based on the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises and the National Bank of Belgium. The sector is the main activity in the register; the municipality is that of the registered office. Data updated on 14 Nov 2026.