Cotton wadding imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
The United Kingdom imported $60.3 million of cotton wadding in 2024 (11.4 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 4th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 215 countries. Value rose 3% on 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 | $60.3M | 11.4K t |
| 2023 | $58.6M | 10.1K t |
| 2022 | $47.4M | 9.5K t |
| 2021 | $48.5M | 9.2K t |
| 2020 | $57.9M | 9.9K t |
| 2019 | $41.7M | 8.0K t |
| 2018 | $46.0M | 8.1K t |
| 2017 | $39.8M | 7.5K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports cotton wadding from
The largest suppliers were Italy (24%), India (14%), Bulgaria (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 49%. Among the main suppliers, Bulgaria grew fastest (+67% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $14.2M | 24% |
| India | $8.6M | 14% |
| Bulgaria | $6.8M | 11% |
| China | $5.7M | 9.5% |
| France | $4.4M | 7.3% |
| Germany | $4.3M | 7.2% |
| Turkey | $4.2M | 7% |
| Netherlands | $3.0M | 5% |
| Spain | $1.9M | 3.2% |
| Greece | $1.7M | 2.8% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.27 per kg, close to the world average of $4.70.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cotton wadding exports from the United Kingdom
Exports of cotton wadding by the United Kingdom reached $5.3 million in 2024 (592 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were Ireland (43%), United States (11%), Denmark (6%). Among the main buyer markets, Belgium grew fastest (+121% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | $2.3M | 43% |
| United States | $601K | 11% |
| Denmark | $311K | 5.8% |
| France | $278K | 5.2% |
| Poland | $155K | 2.9% |
| Taiwan | $132K | 2.5% |
| Belgium | $120K | 2.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $105K | 2% |
| Singapore | $90K | 1.7% |
| Germany | $82K | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom cotton wadding imports (HS 5601.21): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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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 5601.21: Wadding: other articles thereof, of cotton.
Common questions
What is the value of cotton wadding imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported cotton wadding worth $60.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 11.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 4th of 215 countries worldwide, with 6% of world imports. The value was up 3% on 2023.
Which countries supply cotton wadding to the United Kingdom?
Italy was the largest supplier with 24% of the value ($14.2 million), followed by India (14%) and Bulgaria (11%). The top three together account for 49%, out of 43 supplier countries in total. Bulgaria grew fastest among the top ten, up 67% on the year.
What is the average import price of cotton wadding per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.27 per kg in 2024, 12% above the world average of $4.70 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of cotton wadding to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $39.8 million in 2017 to $60.3 million in 2024, an increase of 52%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $50.0 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export cotton wadding?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $5.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Ireland, the United States and Denmark. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $55.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for cotton wadding?
The HS code for cotton wadding is subheading 5601.21. It sits in HS chapter 56 (wadding, felt and nonwovens, special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5601 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Shipment-level records for the United Kingdom reach EximDataX from a direct customs feed, with company names, dates and declared values. We can show them for your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
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