Staple fibre sewing thread imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Ethiopia imported staple fibre sewing thread worth $4.5 million (1.4 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 51% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 23% a year on average.
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 | $4.5M | 1.4K t |
| 2023 | $3.0M | 623 t |
| 2022 | $3.2M | 594 t |
| 2021 | $3.3M | 422 t |
| 2020 | $4.2M | 394 t |
| 2019 | $3.9M | 486 t |
| 2018 | $1.4M | 232 t |
| 2017 | $1.1M | 205 t |
Where Ethiopia imports staple fibre sewing thread from
China alone supplied 82% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+60% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.7M | 82% |
| Sri Lanka | $711K | 16% |
| India | $79K | 1.8% |
| Turkey | $23K | 0.5% |
| Hong Kong | $9K | 0.2% |
| Italy | $4K | 0.1% |
| South Korea | $1K | 0% |
| Sweden | $0K | 0% |
Product types under HS 5508
| 5508.10 | Sewing thread: of synthetic staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale | 100% |
| 5508.20 | Sewing thread: of artificial staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5508.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.31 per kg, 28% below the world average of $4.60, 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 staple fibre sewing thread imports (HS 5508): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 5508: Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale.
Common questions
What is the value of staple fibre sewing thread imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported staple fibre sewing thread worth $4.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 35th of 192 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 51% on 2023.
Which countries supply staple fibre sewing thread to Ethiopia?
China was the largest supplier with 82% of the value ($3.7 million), followed by Sri Lanka (16%) and India (2%). The top three together account for 99%, out of 8 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 234% on the year.
What is the average import price of staple fibre sewing thread per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.31 per kg in 2024, 28% below the world average of $4.60 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of staple fibre sewing thread to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.1 million in 2017 to $4.5 million in 2024, an increase of 323%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $3.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for staple fibre sewing thread?
The HS code for staple fibre sewing thread is heading 5508. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 5508.10 (100% of the value) and 5508.20 (0%).
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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