Staple fibre sewing thread imports in Kenya: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Kenya imported staple fibre sewing thread worth $4.5 million (701 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. Value fell 26% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2023, at $6.1 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 | $4.5M | 701 t |
| 2023 | $6.1M | 672 t |
| 2022 | $5.1M | 796 t |
| 2021 | $5.1M | 805 t |
| 2020 | $4.3M | 677 t |
| 2019 | $5.0M | 821 t |
| 2018 | $4.4M | 858 t |
| 2017 | $4.2M | 998 t |
Where Kenya imports staple fibre sewing thread from
Most of the value came from China (31%), Sri Lanka (26%), Egypt (16%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.4M | 31% |
| Sri Lanka | $1.2M | 26% |
| Egypt | $695K | 16% |
| Oman | $641K | 14% |
| India | $383K | 8.6% |
| Taiwan | $174K | 3.9% |
| Singapore | $33K | 0.7% |
| Tanzania | $12K | 0.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $5K | 0.1% |
| Uganda | $3K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 5508
| 5508.10 | Sewing thread: of synthetic staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale | 99% |
| 5508.20 | Sewing thread: of artificial staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale | 0.8% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5508.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.39 per kg, 39% above the world average of $4.60. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Staple fibre sewing thread exports from Kenya
Kenya exported $204 thousand of staple fibre sewing thread in 2024 (70 tonnes). South Sudan alone took 91% of it.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Sudan | $186K | 91% |
| Burkina Faso | $9K | 4.5% |
| India | $8K | 3.9% |
| Uganda | $1K | 0.2% |
| Seychelles | $0K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in Kenya?
The shipment records behind Kenya staple fibre sewing thread imports (HS 5508): 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 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 Kenya?
Kenya imported staple fibre sewing thread worth $4.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 701 tonnes. That ranks it 37th of 192 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 26% on 2023.
Which countries supply staple fibre sewing thread to Kenya?
China was the largest supplier with 31% of the value ($1.4 million), followed by Sri Lanka (26%) and Egypt (16%). The top three together account for 72%, out of 16 supplier countries in total. Oman grew fastest among the top ten, up 124% on the year.
What is the average import price of staple fibre sewing thread per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.39 per kg in 2024, 39% above 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 Kenya changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.2 million in 2017 to $4.5 million in 2024, an increase of 7%. The peak was 2023 at $6.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $4.8 million a year.
Does Kenya also export staple fibre sewing thread?
Yes. Kenya exported $204 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to South Sudan, Burkina Faso and India. On balance Kenya is a net importer of this product, by about $4.3 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 Kenya the largest six-digit codes were 5508.10 (99% of the value) and 5508.20 (1%).
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 Kenya. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World staple fibre sewing thread trade: top importers and exporters
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