Synthetic tow imports in Turkey: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of synthetic tow by Turkey reached $61.7 million in 2024 (36.9 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 2nd largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 167 countries. That is 7% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2022, at $145.5 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 | $61.7M | 36.9K t |
| 2023 | $57.7M | 32.7K t |
| 2022 | $145.5M | 54.9K t |
| 2021 | $103.6M | 40.3K t |
| 2020 | $74.2M | 43.5K t |
| 2019 | $93.2M | 44.0K t |
| 2018 | $110.2M | 46.9K t |
| 2017 | $120.4M | 60.3K t |
Where Turkey imports synthetic tow from
China alone supplied 64% of it. Among the main suppliers, Portugal grew fastest (+41% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $39.6M | 64% |
| Thailand | $8.9M | 14% |
| Portugal | $7.0M | 11% |
| South Korea | $4.5M | 7.3% |
| France | $1.0M | 1.7% |
| Belarus | $288K | 0.5% |
| Malaysia | $93K | 0.2% |
| India | $77K | 0.1% |
| Italy | $65K | 0.1% |
| Romania | $52K | 0.1% |
Product types under HS 5501
| 5501.30 | Fibres: synthetic filament tow, acrylic or modacrylic | 88% |
| 5501.20 | Fibres: synthetic filament tow, of polyesters | 8.7% |
| 5501.10 | Fibres: synthetic filament tow, of nylon or other polyamides | 2.3% |
| 5501.40 | Fibres: synthetic filament tow, of polypropylene | 1.2% |
| 5501.90 | Fibres: synthetic filament tow, of synthetic materials n.e.c. in heading no. 5501 | 0.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5501.
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.67 per kg, 47% 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.
Synthetic tow exports from Turkey
Exports of synthetic tow by Turkey reached $59.0 million in 2024 (24.2 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 6th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 91 countries. The largest buyer markets were Romania (19%), South Africa (17%), Italy (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 47%. Among the main buyer markets, Egypt grew fastest (+212% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | $10.9M | 19% |
| South Africa | $10.1M | 17% |
| Italy | $6.8M | 12% |
| Egypt | $4.8M | 8.1% |
| Uzbekistan | $3.2M | 5.4% |
| Argentina | $3.1M | 5.3% |
| Kenya | $3.1M | 5.3% |
| Bulgaria | $2.7M | 4.5% |
| Serbia | $2.2M | 3.8% |
| Germany | $2.0M | 3.5% |
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 5501: Synthetic filament tow.
Common questions
What is the value of synthetic tow imported by Turkey?
Turkey imported synthetic tow worth $61.7 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 36.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 2nd of 167 countries worldwide, with 7% of world imports. The value was up 7% on 2023.
Which countries supply synthetic tow to Turkey?
China was the largest supplier with 64% of the value ($39.6 million), followed by Thailand (14%) and Portugal (11%). The top three together account for 90%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. Portugal grew fastest among the top ten, up 41% on the year.
What is the average import price of synthetic tow per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.67 per kg in 2024, 47% below the world average of $3.14 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 synthetic tow to Turkey changed since 2017?
Imports went from $120.4 million in 2017 to $61.7 million in 2024, a fall of 49%. The peak was 2022 at $145.5 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does Turkey also export synthetic tow?
Yes. Turkey exported $59.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Romania, South Africa and Italy. That compares with imports of $61.7 million in the same year.
What is the HS code for synthetic tow?
The HS code for synthetic tow is heading 5501. In Turkey the largest six-digit codes were 5501.30 (87% of the value) and 5501.20 (9%). It sits in HS chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5501 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.
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