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Top Sewing Threads Exports by Country

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Spools of sewing threads (courtesy of Pixabay.com)
Sewing threads spools
International sales for shipments of sewing threads totaled US$2.18 billion in 2022, increasing in value by 3.6% since 2018 when the global total was $2.1 billion.

Year over year, worldwide exports of sewing threads flatlined via a 1.3% upturn compared to $2.15 billion during 2021.

Breaking down that overall total, sewing threads from man-made filaments were worth $1.3 billion in 2022 compared to $762.9 million for sewing threads created from man-made staple fibers. Cotton sewing threads accounted for a smaller amount specifically $121.1 million in export sales during 2022.

Overall, the 5 biggest exporters of sewing threads are mainland China, Germany, United States of America, Hong Kong and Egypt. Combined, that quintet of leading international suppliers sold almost two-thirds (63.7%) of globally exported sewing threads during 2022.

From a continental perspective, suppliers in Asia shipped about three-fifths (60.5%) of overall exported sewing threads trailed by exporters in Europe at 27.3%. Smaller percentages came from North America (6%), Africa (4%), Latin America (2.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (02%) led by Australia.

The four-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefixes are: 5204 for cotton sewing threads; 5401 for sewing threads from man-made filaments; and, 5508 for sewing threads from man-made staple fibers.

Sewing Threads Exports: All materials

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest overall dollar value worth of sewing threads.

  1. China: US$921.9 million (42.3% of all sewing thread exports)
  2. Germany: $213.5 million (9.8%)
  3. United States: $124.1 million (5.7%)
  4. Hong Kong: $68.4 million (3.1%)
  5. Egypt: $60.9 million (2.8%)
  6. Romania: $57 million (2.6%)
  7. Türkiye: $54.3 million (2.5%)
  8. Italy: $45.7 million (2.1%)
  9. United Kingdom: $42.7 million (2%)
  10. Hungary: $38.3 million (1.8%)
  11. Vietnam: $37.9 million (1.7%)
  12. India: $35.1 million (1.6%)South Korea: $34.4 million (1.6%)
  13. Kyrgyzstan: $33.2 million (1.5%)
  14. Japan: $29.3 million (1.3%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 82.4% of all sewing threads exported in 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of sewing threads over the 5-year period were: Kyrgyzstan (up 24,456% from 2018), Egypt (up 55.7%), Vietnam (up 13.4%) and Romania (up 12.7%).

Those countries that posted declines in their sales of exported sewing threads were led by: Hong Kong (down -38.7% from 2018), South Korea (down -27.6%), Hungary (down -25.7%), Japan (down -23.9%) and United States of America (down -14.5%).

Cotton Sewing Threads Exports

The value of exported sewing threads made from cotton reduced by -6.3% from $122.4 million in 2021 to $121.1 million one year later.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of cotton sewing threads during 2022.

  1. China: US$28.1 million (23.2% of cotton sewing thread exports)
  2. India: $15.6 million (12.9%)
  3. Pakistan: $8.7 million (7.2%)
  4. Italy: $7.8 million (6.4%)
  5. Vietnam: $5.2 million (4.3%)
  6. Germany: $4.2 million (3.5%)
  7. United States: $3.8 million (3.1%)
  8. Türkiye: $3.2 million (2.7%)
  9. Costa Rica: $2.7 million (2.3%)
  10. France: $2.6 million (2.2%)
  11. Honduras: $2.6 million (2.1%)
  12. Spain: $2.53 million (2.1%)
  13. Slovenia: $2.52 million (2.1%)
  14. Thailand: $2.51 million (2.1%)
  15. Dominican Republic: $2.38 million (2%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 78.1% of globally exported cotton sewing threads in 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of cotton sewing threads since 2021 were: Honduras (up 32,200%), Vietnam (up 1,487%), Costa Rica (up 247.5%) and Dominican Republic (up 159.6%).

Those countries that posted declines in their sales of exported cotton sewing threads were led by: Türkiye (down -71.4% from 2021), Spain (down -38.3%), India (down -21.7%), Germany (down -16.3%) and Italy (down -16.3%).

Man-made Filaments Sewing Threads Exports

The value of exported sewing threads consisting of man-made filaments advanced by 2.3% compared to $1.27 billion in 2021 rising to $1.3 billion during 2022.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sewing threads from man-made filaments during 2022.

  1. China: US$439.3 million (33.9% of man-made filament sewing thread exports)
  2. Germany: $193.6 million (14.9%)
  3. United States: $105.7 million (8.2%)
  4. Romania: $52.1 million (4%)
  5. United Kingdom: $40.1 million (3.1%)
  6. Hong Kong: $39.1 million (3%)
  7. Egypt: $32.9 million (2.54%)
  8. Italy: $32.4 million (2.5%)
  9. Türkiye: $32 million (2.47%)
  10. Hungary: $29.8 million (2.3%)
  11. Japan: $23.3 million (1.8%)
  12. Czech Republic: $22.4 million (1.7%)
  13. Vietnam: $22.1 million (1.71%)
  14. Honduras: $22.1 million (1.7%)
  15. South Korea: $21.5 million (1.66%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 85.5% of globally exported man-made filament sewing threads in 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of man-made filament sewing threads since 2021 were: Honduras (up 41,545%), United States of America (up 17.1%), United Kingdom (up 11.6%) and mainland China (up 9.9%).

Those countries that posted declines in their sales of exported man-made filament sewing threads were led by: Vietnam (down -39.1% from 2021), Hong Kong (down -23.9%), Japan (down -18.1%), Egypt (down -17.5%) and Germany (down -2.4%).

Man-made Staple Fibers Sewing Threads Exports

The value of exported sewing threads consisting of man-made staple fibers flatlined via a 0.9% advance from $755.9 million in 2021 to $762.9 million during 2022.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sewing threads from man-made staple fibers during 2022.

  1. China: US$454.5 million (59.6% of man-made staple fiber sewing threads exports)
  2. Kyrgyzstan: $33.1 million (4.3%)
  3. Hong Kong: $28.2 million (3.7%)
  4. Egypt: $25.8 million (3.4%)
  5. Türkiye: $19.1 million (2.5%)
  6. Netherlands: $16.7 million (2.2%)
  7. Germany: $15.6 million (2%)
  8. France: $15.5 million (2%)
  9. United States: $14.7 million (1.9%)
  10. South Korea: $12.3 million (1.6%)
  11. Israel: $11.2 million (1.5%)
  12. Vietnam: $10.5 million (1.4%)
  13. Indonesia: $9.8 million (1.3%)
  14. Hungary: $7.4 million (1%)
  15. Sri Lanka: $7.3 million (1%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 89.4% of globally exported man-made staple fiber sewing threads in 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of man-made staple fiber sewing threads since 2021 were: Kyrgyzstan (up 110,397%), Türkiye (up 42%), Netherlands (up 12.4%) and Indonesia (up 10.2%).

Those countries that posted declines in their sales of exported man-made staple fiber sewing threads were led by: Israel (down -36.9% from 2021), Hong Kong (down -35.9%), Sri Lanka (down -28.7%), South Korea (down -17%) and Egypt (down -14.2%).
 

See also Top Exported Baby Clothing Sales, T-shirt Exports by Country and Leather Shoes Exports by Country

Research Sources:
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 14, 2023

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 14, 2023

The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on October 14, 2023

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on October 14, 2023

Wikipedia, Thread (Yarn). Accessed on October 14, 2023