Filament sewing thread imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
South Africa imported $6.4 million of filament sewing thread in 2024 (1.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 31% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $6.4M | 1.3K t |
| 2023 | $4.9M | 911 t |
| 2022 | $4.3M | 1.3K t |
| 2021 | $5.0M | 969 t |
| 2020 | $3.9M | 1.2K t |
| 2019 | $4.5M | 1.6K t |
| 2018 | $5.4M | 1.9K t |
| 2017 | $4.9M | 1.4K t |
Where South Africa imports filament sewing thread from
China alone supplied 60% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+48% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $3.8M | 60% |
| India | $1.1M | 18% |
| Germany | $624K | 9.7% |
| Turkey | $339K | 5.3% |
| Mauritius | $100K | 1.6% |
| Netherlands | $64K | 1% |
| United States | $47K | 0.7% |
| South Korea | $45K | 0.7% |
| United Kingdom | $40K | 0.6% |
| Slovenia | $31K | 0.5% |
Product types under HS 5401
| 5401.10 | Sewing thread: of synthetic filaments, whether or not put up for retail sale | 92% |
| 5401.20 | Sewing thread: of artificial filaments, whether or not put up for retail sale | 8.5% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5401.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $4.94 per kg, 40% below the world average of $8.28, 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.
Filament sewing thread exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $3.5 million of filament sewing thread in 2024 (794 tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Lesotho accounted for 61% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Lesotho grew fastest (+99% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lesotho | $2.1M | 61% |
| Eswatini | $450K | 13% |
| Namibia | $304K | 8.7% |
| Mozambique | $275K | 7.9% |
| Zimbabwe | $95K | 2.7% |
| Botswana | $81K | 2.3% |
| Zambia | $56K | 1.6% |
| Tanzania | $19K | 0.5% |
| Germany | $17K | 0.5% |
| Malawi | $13K | 0.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 5401: Sewing thread of man-made filaments, whether or not put up for retail sale.
Common questions
What is the value of filament sewing thread imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported filament sewing thread worth $6.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.3 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 46th of 205 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 31% on 2023.
Which countries supply filament sewing thread to South Africa?
China was the largest supplier with 60% of the value ($3.8 million), followed by India (18%) and Germany (10%). The top three together account for 87%, out of 39 supplier countries in total. South Korea grew fastest among the top ten, up 381% on the year.
What is the average import price of filament sewing thread per kg?
The average declared import value was about $4.94 per kg in 2024, 40% below the world average of $8.28 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have imports of filament sewing thread to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.9 million in 2017 to $6.4 million in 2024, an increase of 30%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does South Africa also export filament sewing thread?
Yes. South Africa exported $3.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for filament sewing thread?
The HS code for filament sewing thread is heading 5401. In South Africa the largest six-digit codes were 5401.10 (91% of the value) and 5401.20 (9%). It sits in HS chapter 54 (man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5401 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX rebuilds South Africa trade from the customs records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see the companies that ship to and from it. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Same product, other countries
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