🇬🇧 United Kingdom imports of cotton yarn: 2024 trade data
Imports of cotton yarn by the United Kingdom reached $27.8 million in 2024 (3.6 thousand tonnes). That is 31% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2023, at $40.2 million.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of cotton yarn by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $27.8M | 3.6K t |
| 2023 | $40.2M | 4.2K t |
| 2022 | $39.3M | 4.2K t |
| 2021 | $27.5M | 4.5K t |
| 2020 | $24.1M | 4.8K t |
| 2019 | $32.9M | 7.7K t |
| 2018 | $32.5M | 6.5K t |
| 2017 | $31.7M | 6.5K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports cotton yarn from
Most of the value came from Egypt (26%), India (17%), Italy (14%). Among the main suppliers, Uzbekistan grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | $7.2M | 26% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $4.8M | 17% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $3.9M | 14% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $2.9M | 11% |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | $2.6M | 9.3% |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | $1.5M | 5.4% |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | $971K | 3.5% |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | $897K | 3.2% |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | $750K | 2.7% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $728K | 2.6% |
Types of cotton yarn under HS 5205
| 5205.48 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple or cabled, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 120… | 23% |
| 5205.47 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple or cabled, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, 106.37 to 83.33 decitex (95 to 120 metric… | 15% |
| 5205.44 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple or cabled, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, 192.30 to 125 decitex (53 to 80 metric… | 14% |
| 5205.32 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple or cabled, of uncombed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, 714.28 to 232.56 decitex (15 to 43 metric… | 9.3% |
| 5205.12 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of uncombed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, less than 714.29 but not less than 232.56 decitex… | 7.4% |
| 5205.42 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple or cabled, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, 714.28 to 232.56 decitex (15 to 43 metric… | 6.2% |
| 5205.31 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple or cabled, of uncombed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, 714.29 decitex or more (not exceeding 14… | 4.7% |
| 5205.22 | Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, less than 714.29 but not less than 232.56 decitex… | 4.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5205.
Average import price of cotton yarn
The average declared value was about $7.70 per kg, 157% above the world average of $3.00. 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.
The United Kingdom also exports cotton yarn
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported cotton yarn worth $5.9 million (514 tonnes). Most of it went to Saudi Arabia (48%), Lithuania (32%), Turkey (4%). Among the main buyer markets, Lithuania grew fastest (+184% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $2.8M | 48% |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | $1.9M | 32% |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | $248K | 4.2% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $202K | 3.4% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $176K | 3% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $172K | 2.9% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $95K | 1.6% |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | $90K | 1.5% |
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | $51K | 0.9% |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $28K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
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 5205: Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale.
Cotton yarn trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of cotton yarn imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported cotton yarn worth $27.8 million in 2024 (3.6 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import cotton yarn from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Egypt (26%), India (17%), Italy (14%).
What is the average import price of cotton yarn in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $7.70 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $3.00 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export cotton yarn?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported cotton yarn worth $5.9 million in 2024, mainly to Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, Turkey.
What is the HS code for cotton yarn?
Cotton yarn falls under HS heading 5205 (Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading cotton yarn with the United Kingdom?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
Cotton yarn trade in other countries
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