Polyester staple fiber trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in polyester staple fiber was worth $4.55 billion in 2024, about 3.83 million tonnes. That is an increase of 1% since 2017, and up 3% 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 | $4.55B | 3.83M t |
| 2023 | $4.44B | 3.71M t |
| 2022 | $5.10B | 3.68M t |
| 2021 | $5.02B | 4.08M t |
| 2020 | $3.75B | 3.68M t |
| 2019 | $4.74B | 3.88M t |
| 2018 | $5.31B | 3.84M t |
| 2017 | $4.49B | 3.62M t |
Top polyester staple fiber exporting countries
China is the largest exporter with 30% of world exports, followed by South Korea and Thailand. The top three supply 55% between them, out of 107 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.36B | 30% |
| South Korea | $699.0M | 15% |
| Thailand | $448.7M | 9.9% |
| India | $285.4M | 6.3% |
| Indonesia | $248.5M | 5.5% |
| Taiwan | $243.1M | 5.3% |
| Vietnam | $225.2M | 5% |
| Turkey | $166.8M | 3.7% |
| Malaysia | $128.2M | 2.8% |
| Germany | $114.0M | 2.5% |
| Ireland | $60.6M | 1.3% |
| United States | $58.4M | 1.3% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The United States is the biggest buyer with 12% of world imports, ahead of Vietnam and Pakistan. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 27% across 173 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $561.2M | 12% |
| Vietnam | $417.0M | 9.2% |
| Pakistan | $252.4M | 5.5% |
| Turkey | $236.9M | 5.2% |
| Germany | $201.2M | 4.4% |
| Brazil | $189.2M | 4.2% |
| Mexico | $141.0M | 3.1% |
| Poland | $138.1M | 3% |
| Bangladesh | $136.3M | 3% |
| Spain | $134.4M | 3% |
| Italy | $131.0M | 2.9% |
| United Kingdom | $122.5M | 2.7% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $1.19 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Taiwan averaged $1.33 per kg and Vietnam $1.03 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?
The shipment records behind Polyester staple fiber (HS 5503.20) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 5503.20: Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning. HS 5503 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most polyester staple fiber?
China exported $1.36 billion in 2024, 30% of the world total, followed by South Korea (15%) and Thailand (10%). In all, 107 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most polyester staple fiber?
The United States imported $561.2 million in 2024, 12% of world imports, ahead of Vietnam (9%) and Pakistan (6%). The top three importers together take 27%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in polyester staple fiber?
It was worth $4.55 billion in 2024, about 3.83 million tonnes. That is an increase of 1% since 2017. The peak year was 2018 at $5.31 billion. 107 countries reported exports and 173 reported imports.
What is the average price of polyester staple fiber per kg?
The world average declared value was about $1.19 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Taiwan averaged $1.33 per kg and Vietnam $1.03 per kg, so grade and origin matter. Read it as a benchmark: it blends all grades, origins and contract terms.
What is the HS code for polyester staple fiber?
The HS code for polyester staple fiber is subheading 5503.20, in chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 5503 page.
How can I find polyester staple fiber buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading polyester staple fiber, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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