Skip links

World's Top Exports

Trade metrics that inspire global thinking

Header Right

Top Sewing Threads Exports by Country

by

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%)
    13. 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