Light cotton fabric imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of light cotton fabric by Ethiopia reached $2.4 million in 2024 (368 tonnes). Value fell 43% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $9.8 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.4M | 369 t |
| 2023 | $4.3M | 402 t |
| 2022 | $2.3M | 299 t |
| 2021 | $2.7M | 249 t |
| 2020 | $3.4M | 498 t |
| 2019 | $6.6M | 714 t |
| 2018 | $9.8M | 1.7K t |
| 2017 | $2.5M | 340 t |
Where Ethiopia imports light cotton fabric from
China alone supplied 96% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.3M | 96% |
| Turkey | $34K | 1.4% |
| Thailand | $21K | 0.9% |
| India | $13K | 0.6% |
| Japan | $10K | 0.4% |
| Hong Kong | $8K | 0.3% |
| South Korea | $4K | 0.1% |
| Pakistan | $2K | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | $1K | 0.1% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $0K | 0% |
Product types under HS 5208
| 5208.21 | Bleached light plain cotton fabric | 42% |
| 5208.39 | Dyed light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 19% |
| 5208.32 | Dyed medium plain cotton fabric | 13% |
| 5208.13 | Unbleached light twill cotton fabric | 8.2% |
| 5208.52 | Printed medium plain cotton fabric | 5.9% |
| 5208.42 | Multi-colour medium plain cotton fabric | 4.4% |
| 5208.59 | Printed light woven cotton fabric (other weaves) | 3% |
| 5208.22 | Bleached medium plain cotton fabric | 2.6% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5208.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.62 per kg, 29% below the world average of $9.39, 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.
Who is behind these numbers in Ethiopia?
The shipment records behind Ethiopia light cotton fabric imports (HS 5208): 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 5208: Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2.
Common questions
What is the value of light cotton fabric imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported light cotton fabric worth $2.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 368 tonnes. That ranks it 128th of 214 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 43% on 2023.
Which countries supply light cotton fabric to Ethiopia?
China was the largest supplier with 96% of the value ($2.3 million), followed by Turkey (1%) and Thailand (1%). The top three together account for 98%, out of 10 supplier countries in total.
What is the average import price of light cotton fabric per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.62 per kg in 2024, 29% below the world average of $9.39 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of light cotton fabric to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.5 million in 2017 to $2.4 million in 2024, a fall of 3%. The peak was 2018 at $9.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $4.3 million a year.
What is the HS code for light cotton fabric?
The HS code for light cotton fabric is heading 5208. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 5208.21 (42% of the value) and 5208.39 (19%).
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.
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