Heavy cotton fabric imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Ethiopia imported heavy cotton fabric worth $2.1 million (406 tonnes). Value fell 70% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 5% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2021, at $12.7 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
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Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.1M | 406 t |
| 2023 | $6.9M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $12.4M | 3.0K t |
| 2021 | $12.7M | 3.3K t |
| 2020 | $7.2M | 1.6K t |
| 2019 | $12.4M | 3.1K t |
| 2018 | $11.5M | 2.3K t |
| 2017 | $3.0M | 578 t |
Where Ethiopia imports heavy cotton fabric from
China alone supplied 83% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.7M | 83% |
| India | $156K | 7.5% |
| Thailand | $135K | 6.5% |
| Sri Lanka | $50K | 2.4% |
| Italy | $12K | 0.6% |
| Pakistan | $4K | 0.2% |
| Turkey | $1K | 0% |
| Sweden | $0K | 0% |
| Denmark | $0K | 0% |
Product types under HS 5209
| 5209.42 | Denim | 55% |
| 5209.39 | Dyed heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 35% |
| 5209.32 | Dyed heavy twill cotton fabric | 4% |
| 5209.43 | Multi-colour heavy twill cotton fabric | 3.8% |
| 5209.41 | Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of different colours, plain weave, weighing more than 200g/m2 | 1.1% |
| 5209.51 | Printed heavy plain cotton fabric | 0.9% |
| 5209.11 | Unbleached heavy plain cotton fabric | 0.6% |
| 5209.59 | Printed heavy woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 0.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5209.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.11 per kg, 25% below the world average of $6.83, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Heavy cotton fabric exports from Ethiopia
Ethiopia exported $1.4 million of heavy cotton fabric in 2024 (364 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Spain (38%), Morocco (27%), Kenya (7%). Among the main buyer markets, Morocco grew fastest (+541% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | $521K | 38% |
| Morocco | $365K | 27% |
| Kenya | $100K | 7.3% |
| Tunisia | $98K | 7.2% |
| Turkey | $84K | 6.2% |
| Portugal | $81K | 6% |
| Switzerland | $44K | 3.2% |
| United States | $25K | 1.8% |
| Sweden | $20K | 1.5% |
| Denmark | $10K | 0.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in Ethiopia?
The shipment records behind Ethiopia heavy cotton fabric imports (HS 5209): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 5209: Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing more than 200g/m2.
Common questions
What is the value of heavy cotton fabric imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported heavy cotton fabric worth $2.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 406 tonnes. That ranks it 99th of 211 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 70% on 2023.
Which countries supply heavy cotton fabric to Ethiopia?
China was the largest supplier with 83% of the value ($1.7 million), followed by India (8%) and Thailand (7%). The top three together account for 97%, out of 9 supplier countries in total.
What is the average import price of heavy cotton fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.11 per kg in 2024, 25% below the world average of $6.83 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of heavy cotton fabric to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $3.0 million in 2017 to $2.1 million in 2024, a fall of 31%. The peak was 2021 at $12.7 million. Over 8 years the average was $8.5 million a year.
Does Ethiopia also export heavy cotton fabric?
Yes. Ethiopia exported $1.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Spain, Morocco and Kenya. On balance Ethiopia is a net importer of this product, by about $718 thousand a year.
What is the HS code for heavy cotton fabric?
The HS code for heavy cotton fabric is heading 5209. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 5209.42 (55% of the value) and 5209.39 (35%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Ethiopia, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World heavy cotton fabric trade: top importers and exporters
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