Breaking down that overall total, sewing threads from man-made filaments were worth $1.07 billion in 2020 compared to $608.4 million for sewing threads created from man-made staple fibers. Cotton sewing threads accounted for a smaller amount, $113.5 million in export sales during 2020.
In general, the 5 biggest exporters of sewing threads are China, Germany, United States, Hong Kong and Turkey. Combined, that quintet of leading international suppliers sold almost two-thirds (64.7%) of globally exported sewing threads during 2020.
From a continental perspective, suppliers in Asia shipped about three-fifths (59.4%) of overall exported sewing threads trailed by European exporters at 28.1%. Smaller percentages came from North America (6.3%), Africa (3.7%), Latin America (2.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.02%) 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 by Country
All
Sewing Threads Exports: All materials
The value of exported sewing threads consisting of all materials referenced in this article declined by -5.9% from $2.06 billion in 2019 to $1.94 billion during 2020. Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest overall dollar value worth of sewing threads.
- China: US$754.8 million (39% of overall exported sewing threads)
- Germany: $228.7 million (11.8%)
- United States: $119.6 million (6.2%)
- Hong Kong: $90.8 million (4.7%)
- Turkey: $58.2 million (3%)
- Hungary: $48.8 million (2.5%)
- Romania: $48.4 million (2.5%)
- Egypt: $41.8 million (2.2%)
- Italy: $41.6 million (2.2%)
- United Kingdom: $38.8 million (2%)
- Japan: $36.6 million (1.9%)
- India: $34.5 million (1.8%)
- South Korea: $34.3 million (1.8%)
- Netherlands: $30.4 million (1.6%)
- Czech Republic: $24.6 million (1.3%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 84.3% of global sewing threads exports in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing sewing threads exporters over the 5-year period starting in 2016 were: Netherlands (up 170%), Egypt (up 46.3%), Turkey (up 32.6%) and Czech Republic (up 22.8%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported sewing threads sales were led by: South Korea (down -53.4%), Italy (down -24.6%), United States (down -18.6%), Hong Kong (down -14.7%) and China (down -5.8%).
Cotton
Sewing Threads Exports: Cotton
The value of exported sewing threads made from cotton declined by -5.9% from $120.5 million in 2019 to $113.5 million one year later. Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of cotton sewing threads during 2020.
- China: US$24.8 million (21.9% of exported cotton sewing threads)
- Turkey: $16.1 million (14.2%)
- India: $14.8 million (13%)
- Italy: $7.9 million (7%)
- Germany: $5.1 million (4.5%)
- Pakistan: $4.7 million (4.2%)
- Spain: $3.4 million (3%)
- Hong Kong: $2.9 million (2.5%)
- United States: $2.6 million (2.3%)
- Czech Republic: $2.4 million (2.1%)
- Lesotho: $2 million (1.8%)
- Thailand: $1.84 million (1.6%)
- Egypt: $1.83 million (1.6%)
- France: $1.82 million (1.6%)
- Netherlands: $1.77 million (1.6%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 82.8% of globally exported cotton sewing threads in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing cotton sewing threads exporters since 2019 were: Czech Republic (up 56.3%), Pakistan (up 50.9%), Germany (up 40%) and China (up 27.2%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported cotton sewing threads sales were led by: Egypt (down -47.8%), Hong Kong (down -43.5%), France (down -23.6%), Lesotho (down -19.3%) and Turkey (down -17.4%).
Man-made Filaments
Sewing Threads Exports: Man-made Filaments
The value of exported sewing threads consisting of man-made filaments declined by -13.1% from $1.23 billion in 2019 to $1.07 billion during 2020. Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sewing threads from man-made filaments during 2020.
- China: US$326.6 million (30.5% of exported man-made filament sewing threads)
- Germany: $172.3 million (16.1%)
- United States: $83.9 million (7.8%)
- Romania: $39 million (3.7%)
- Hong Kong: $36 million (3.4%)
- United Kingdom: $32.1 million (3%)
- Egypt: $31.7 million (2.96%)
- Hungary: $29.1 million (2.7%)
- Vietnam: $28 million (2.62%)
- Turkey: $26.1 million (2.4%)
- Japan: $23.9 million (2.2%)
- Italy: $21.9 million (2%)
- Czech Republic: $19.8 million (1.85%)
- Spain: $15.3 million (1.43%)
- South Korea: $14.6 million (1.37%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 84.2% of globally exported man-made filament sewing threads in 2020.
Among the above countries, there were 2 gainer from 2019 to 2020: Spain (up 22.5%) and Egypt (up 21.1%).
Those countries that posted declines in their export sales of man-made filament sewing threads were led by: South Korea (down -31.2%), United States (down -29.1%), Hong Kong (down -25.4%), Japan (down -23%) and Italy (down -19%).
Staple Fibers
Sewing Threads Exports: Man-made Staple Fibers
The value of exported sewing threads consisting of man-made staple fibers declined by -13.7% from $704.6 million in 2019 to $608.4 million during 2020. Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sewing threads from man-made staple fibers during 2020.
- China: US$353.5 million (58.1% of exported man-made staple fiber sewing threads)
- Hong Kong: $37.3 million (6.1%)
- Germany: $19.9 million (3.3%)
- Egypt: $19 million (3.1%)
- Israel: $15.9 million (2.6%)
- Netherlands: $12.4 million (2%)
- South Korea: $11.2 million (1.8%)
- Turkey: $10.5 million (1.7%)
- United States: $9.6 million (1.6%)
- Indonesia: $9 million (1.5%)
- Vietnam: $8.3 million (1.4%)
- Hungary: $8.1 million (1.3%)
- India: $7.4 million (1.2%)
- Sri Lanka: $7.1 million (1.2%)
- Cambodia: $5.5 million (0.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 87.9% of globally exported man-made staple fiber sewing threads in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of man-made staple fiber sewing threads since 2019 were: Netherlands (up 51.4%), Israel (up 32.3%), Cambodia (up 28.9%) and Egypt (up 23.9%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported man-made staple fiber sewing threads sales were led by: United States (down -42.9%), South Korea (down -41.3%), Hong Kong (down -30.4%), Indonesia (down -24.3%) and Sri Lanka (down -20.6%).
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 September 23, 2021
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 23, 2021
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on September 23, 2021
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on September 23, 2021
Wikipedia, Thread (Yarn). Accessed on September 23, 2021
