Synthetic tow imports in Ethiopia: data, top suppliers and prices
Ethiopia imported $2.2 million of synthetic tow in 2024 (982 tonnes). Value rose 15915% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 12% 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 | $2.2M | 982 t |
| 2023 | $14K | 4 t |
| 2022 | $255K | 48 t |
| 2021 | $63K | 21 t |
| 2020 | $184K | 91 t |
| 2019 | $34K | 10 t |
| 2018 | $238K | 47 t |
| 2017 | $1.0M | 374 t |
Where Ethiopia imports synthetic tow from
India alone supplied 73% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $1.6M | 73% |
| South Korea | $488K | 22% |
| Malaysia | $60K | 2.7% |
| Netherlands | $28K | 1.3% |
| China | $10K | 0.5% |
Product types under HS 5501
| 5501.30 | Acrylic filament tow | 75% |
| 5501.90 | Synthetic filament tow (other) | 22% |
| 5501.20 | Polyester filament tow | 3.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5501.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.23 per kg, 29% below the world average of $3.14, 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 synthetic tow imports (HS 5501): 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 5501: Synthetic filament tow.
Common questions
What is the value of synthetic tow imported by Ethiopia?
Ethiopia imported synthetic tow worth $2.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 982 tonnes. That ranks it 50th of 167 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports.
Which countries supply synthetic tow to Ethiopia?
India was the largest supplier with 73% of the value ($1.6 million), followed by South Korea (22%) and Malaysia (3%). The top three together account for 98%, out of 5 supplier countries in total. The Netherlands grew fastest among the top ten, up 109% on the year.
What is the average import price of synthetic tow per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.23 per kg in 2024, 29% below the world average of $3.14 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of synthetic tow to Ethiopia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.0 million in 2017 to $2.2 million in 2024, an increase of 118%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $498 thousand a year.
What is the HS code for synthetic tow?
The HS code for synthetic tow is heading 5501. In Ethiopia the largest six-digit codes were 5501.30 (75% of the value) and 5501.90 (22%).
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for Ethiopia. Tell us your product to see it live.
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