Plant fiber trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in plant fiber was worth $676.9 million in 2024, about 1.46 million tonnes. That is an increase of 18% since 2017, and up 13% 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 | $676.9M | 1.46M t |
| 2023 | $600.8M | 1.31M t |
| 2022 | $744.2M | 1.38M t |
| 2021 | $876.7M | 1.45M t |
| 2020 | $684.6M | 1.31M t |
| 2019 | $639.6M | 1.30M t |
| 2018 | $546.3M | 1.08M t |
| 2017 | $572.6M | 1.24M t |
Top plant fiber exporting countries
India is the largest exporter with 39% of world exports, followed by Sri Lanka and Kenya. The top three supply 71% between them, out of 106 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $262.7M | 39% |
| Sri Lanka | $166.7M | 25% |
| Kenya | $48.6M | 7.2% |
| Brazil | $39.0M | 5.8% |
| Tanzania | $23.3M | 3.4% |
| Ecuador | $21.9M | 3.2% |
| Philippines | $21.8M | 3.2% |
| Netherlands | $17.2M | 2.5% |
| Vietnam | $15.5M | 2.3% |
| Spain | $8.0M | 1.2% |
| Belgium | $7.8M | 1.2% |
| Thailand | $7.3M | 1.1% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are China (27%), the United States (10%) and the United Kingdom (6%). 183 countries imported it, and the top three take 43% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $179.5M | 27% |
| United States | $66.6M | 9.8% |
| United Kingdom | $43.2M | 6.4% |
| Netherlands | $35.1M | 5.2% |
| Nigeria | $26.6M | 3.9% |
| Spain | $26.6M | 3.9% |
| Mexico | $26.4M | 3.9% |
| Morocco | $19.4M | 2.9% |
| Canada | $19.0M | 2.8% |
| Japan | $18.1M | 2.7% |
| Peru | $17.5M | 2.6% |
| France | $12.3M | 1.8% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.46 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Ecuador averaged $2.10 per kg and India $0.34 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 5305: Coconut, abaca (Manila hemp or Musa textilis Nee), ramie and other vegetable textile fibres n.e.c., raw or processed but not spun; tow, noils and waste of these fibres (including yarn waste and garnetted stock). HS 5305 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most plant fiber?
India exported $262.7 million in 2024, 39% of the world total, followed by Sri Lanka (25%) and Kenya (7%). In all, 106 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most plant fiber?
China imported $179.5 million in 2024, 27% of world imports, ahead of the United States (10%) and the United Kingdom (6%). The top three importers together take 43%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in plant fiber?
It was worth $676.9 million in 2024, about 1.46 million tonnes. That is an increase of 18% since 2017. The peak year was 2021 at $876.7 million. 106 countries reported exports and 183 reported imports.
What is the average price of plant fiber per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.46 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Ecuador averaged $2.10 per kg and India $0.34 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 plant fiber?
The HS code for plant fiber is heading 5305, in chapter 53 (vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 5305 page.
How can I find plant fiber 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.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.