Cotton waste trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in cotton waste was worth $490.6 million in 2024, about 447.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 19% since 2017, and down 1% 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 | $490.6M | 447.8K t |
| 2023 | $496.8M | 434.4K t |
| 2022 | $506.5M | 447.8K t |
| 2021 | $475.4M | 467.2K t |
| 2020 | $413.0M | 434.3K t |
| 2019 | $396.8M | 455.7K t |
| 2018 | $489.1M | 476.9K t |
| 2017 | $607.6M | 573.1K t |
Top cotton waste exporting countries
Exports are led by Turkey (20%), India (19%) and Pakistan (11%). 114 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 50%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $99.3M | 20% |
| India | $93.7M | 19% |
| Pakistan | $54.0M | 11% |
| Uzbekistan | $53.3M | 11% |
| Germany | $33.9M | 6.9% |
| Bangladesh | $16.4M | 3.3% |
| Brazil | $15.0M | 3.1% |
| United States | $14.5M | 3% |
| Indonesia | $10.3M | 2.1% |
| France | $9.1M | 1.9% |
| Turkmenistan | $8.0M | 1.6% |
| South Korea | $7.2M | 1.5% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Germany is the biggest buyer with 12% of world imports, ahead of Vietnam and Turkey. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 30% across 170 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $59.4M | 12% |
| Vietnam | $53.7M | 11% |
| Turkey | $36.0M | 7.4% |
| Pakistan | $31.7M | 6.5% |
| India | $28.7M | 5.9% |
| United States | $24.1M | 4.9% |
| France | $23.8M | 4.9% |
| Taiwan | $23.5M | 4.8% |
| Italy | $17.6M | 3.6% |
| Russia | $17.3M | 3.5% |
| Japan | $15.9M | 3.3% |
| Thailand | $15.7M | 3.2% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $1.10 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Pakistan averaged $1.81 per kg and Bangladesh $0.43 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 5202: Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock). HS 5202 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most cotton waste?
Turkey exported $99.3 million in 2024, 20% of the world total, followed by India (19%) and Pakistan (11%). In all, 114 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most cotton waste?
Germany imported $59.4 million in 2024, 12% of world imports, ahead of Vietnam (11%) and Turkey (7%). The top three importers together take 30%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in cotton waste?
It was worth $490.6 million in 2024, about 447.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 19% since 2017. The peak year was 2017 at $607.6 million. 114 countries reported exports and 170 reported imports.
What is the average price of cotton waste per kg?
The world average declared value was about $1.10 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Pakistan averaged $1.81 per kg and Bangladesh $0.43 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 waste?
The HS code for cotton waste is heading 5202, in chapter 52 (cotton). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 5202 page.
How can I find cotton waste 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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