Cotton sewing thread exports from Turkey: data, top buyers and prices
Turkey exported $3.6 million of cotton sewing thread in 2024 (468 tonnes). It ranks 10th of 135 countries for exports of this product. That is 14% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 6% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $20.3 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.6M | 468 t |
| 2023 | $4.2M | 603 t |
| 2022 | $4.1M | 613 t |
| 2021 | $11.7M | 2.6K t |
| 2020 | $17.1M | 4.6K t |
| 2019 | $20.3M | 5.6K t |
| 2018 | $16.1M | 3.6K t |
| 2017 | $5.7M | 852 t |
Where Turkey exports cotton sewing thread to
Most of it went to Germany (26%), United States (9%), Romania (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 43%. Among the main buyer markets, Netherlands grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $953K | 26% |
| United States | $311K | 8.6% |
| Romania | $281K | 7.7% |
| Belarus | $224K | 6.2% |
| Poland | $168K | 4.6% |
| Egypt | $166K | 4.6% |
| Iran | $142K | 3.9% |
| Netherlands | $126K | 3.5% |
| Portugal | $123K | 3.4% |
| France | $121K | 3.3% |
Product types under HS 5204
| 5204.20 | Cotton: sewing thread, put up for retail sale | 65% |
| 5204.11 | Cotton: sewing thread, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale | 21% |
| 5204.19 | Cotton: sewing thread, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale | 14% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5204.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $7.74 per kg, 47% above the world average of $5.26. 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.
Cotton sewing thread imports to Turkey
Imports of cotton sewing thread by Turkey reached $1.6 million in 2024 (93 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. One supplier dominates: Egypt accounted for 58% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Greece grew fastest (+268% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | $954K | 58% |
| Portugal | $225K | 14% |
| Greece | $148K | 9% |
| India | $111K | 6.8% |
| China | $69K | 4.2% |
| Italy | $55K | 3.4% |
| Peru | $30K | 1.8% |
| Hungary | $16K | 1% |
| Switzerland | $11K | 0.7% |
| France | $4K | 0.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in Turkey?
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.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 5204: Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale.
Common questions
What is the value of cotton sewing thread exported by Turkey?
Turkey exported cotton sewing thread worth $3.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 468 tonnes. That ranks it 10th of 135 countries worldwide, with 3% of world exports. The value was down 14% on 2023.
Which countries buy cotton sewing thread from Turkey?
Germany was the largest buyer with 26% of the value ($952 thousand), followed by the United States (9%) and Romania (8%). The top three together account for 43%, out of 92 buyer countries in total. Belarus grew fastest among the top ten, up 156% on the year.
What is the average export price of cotton sewing thread per kg?
The average declared export value was about $7.74 per kg in 2024, 47% above the world average of $5.26 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 exports of cotton sewing thread from Turkey changed since 2017?
Exports went from $5.7 million in 2017 to $3.6 million in 2024, a fall of 37%. The peak was 2019 at $20.3 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does Turkey also import cotton sewing thread?
Yes. Turkey imported $1.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Egypt, Portugal and Greece. On balance Turkey is a net exporter of this product, by about $2.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for cotton sewing thread?
The HS code for cotton sewing thread is heading 5204. In Turkey the largest six-digit codes were 5204.20 (65% of the value) and 5204.11 (21%). It sits in HS chapter 52 (cotton). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5204 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for Turkey with shipment-level records, updated weekly, so you can see importers and exporters by name with dates, quantities and declared values. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Same product, other countries
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.