Cotton linters trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in cotton linters was worth $84.0 million in 2024, about 158.4 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 30% since 2017, and up 4% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $84.0M | 158.4K t |
| 2023 | $80.6M | 141.2K t |
| 2022 | $91.9M | 158.8K t |
| 2021 | $115.9M | 264.7K t |
| 2020 | $95.8M | 170.7K t |
| 2019 | $102.1M | 172.8K t |
| 2018 | $92.3M | 131.5K t |
| 2017 | $119.5M | 181.0K t |
Top cotton linters exporting countries
Turkey is the largest exporter with 22% of world exports, followed by Brazil and India. The top three supply 59% between them, out of 63 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $18.3M | 22% |
| Brazil | $15.9M | 19% |
| India | $15.6M | 19% |
| South Africa | $12.9M | 15% |
| United States | $6.5M | 7.8% |
| Turkmenistan | $4.2M | 5% |
| China | $3.5M | 4.1% |
| Kazakhstan | $1.6M | 1.9% |
| Tanzania | $1.6M | 1.9% |
| Zambia | $518K | 0.6% |
| Uganda | $504K | 0.6% |
| Uzbekistan | $473K | 0.6% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are China (52%), Japan (14%) and Spain (9%). 85 countries imported it, and the top three take 75% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $43.6M | 52% |
| Japan | $11.9M | 14% |
| Spain | $7.9M | 9.4% |
| Indonesia | $2.8M | 3.4% |
| Taiwan | $2.8M | 3.3% |
| Serbia | $2.6M | 3.1% |
| Iran | $2.3M | 2.8% |
| Egypt | $1.7M | 2.1% |
| Mauritius | $1.7M | 2% |
| Vietnam | $1.1M | 1.3% |
| South Africa | $610K | 0.7% |
| United States | $590K | 0.7% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.53 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, South Africa averaged $1.81 per kg and India $0.35 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 1404.20: Vegetable products: cotton linters. HS 1404 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most cotton linters?
Turkey exported $18.3 million in 2024, 22% of the world total, followed by Brazil (19%) and India (19%). In all, 63 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most cotton linters?
China imported $43.6 million in 2024, 52% of world imports, ahead of Japan (14%) and Spain (9%). The top three importers together take 75%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in cotton linters?
It was worth $84.0 million in 2024, about 158.4 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 30% since 2017. The peak year was 2017 at $119.5 million. 63 countries reported exports and 85 reported imports.
What is the average price of cotton linters per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.53 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, South Africa averaged $1.81 per kg and India $0.35 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for cotton linters?
The HS code for cotton linters is subheading 1404.20, in chapter 14 (vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 1404 page.
How can I find cotton linters buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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