Polyester staple fiber imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of polyester staple fiber by the United Kingdom reached $122.5 million in 2024 (103.5 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 3%. That is close to the 2023 level. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $172.0 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 | $122.5M | 103.5K t |
| 2023 | $122.6M | 106.2K t |
| 2022 | $153.0M | 108.9K t |
| 2021 | $133.8M | 107.4K t |
| 2020 | $107.7M | 98.9K t |
| 2019 | $144.0M | 114.7K t |
| 2018 | $172.0M | 127.3K t |
| 2017 | $153.5M | 130.2K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports polyester staple fiber from
Most of the value came from South Korea (21%), Indonesia (17%), Vietnam (16%). Among the main suppliers, Turkey grew fastest (+148% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $25.2M | 21% |
| Indonesia | $20.8M | 17% |
| Vietnam | $20.1M | 16% |
| Taiwan | $14.4M | 12% |
| China | $12.9M | 11% |
| Ireland | $8.9M | 7.2% |
| Thailand | $4.0M | 3.3% |
| India | $3.4M | 2.8% |
| Turkey | $2.5M | 2% |
| Germany | $2.4M | 2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.18 per kg, close to the world average of $1.19.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Polyester staple fiber exports from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom exported $8.7 million of polyester staple fiber in 2024 (2.8 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Brazil (12%), Ireland (12%), Czech Republic (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 35%. Among the main buyer markets, China grew fastest (+922% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | $1.1M | 12% |
| Ireland | $1.0M | 12% |
| Czech Republic | $949K | 11% |
| China | $828K | 9.5% |
| United States | $782K | 9% |
| France | $610K | 7% |
| Italy | $421K | 4.8% |
| Germany | $389K | 4.5% |
| Turkey | $328K | 3.8% |
| Slovenia | $324K | 3.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom polyester staple fiber imports (HS 5503.20): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 5503.20: Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning.
Common questions
What is the value of polyester staple fiber imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported polyester staple fiber worth $122.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 103.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 12th of 173 countries worldwide, with 3% of world imports. The value was down 0% on 2023.
Which countries supply polyester staple fiber to the United Kingdom?
South Korea was the largest supplier with 21% of the value ($25.2 million), followed by Indonesia (17%) and Vietnam (16%). The top three together account for 54%, out of 37 supplier countries in total. Turkey grew fastest among the top ten, up 148% on the year.
What is the average import price of polyester staple fiber per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.18 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $1.19 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of polyester staple fiber to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $153.5 million in 2017 to $122.5 million in 2024, a fall of 20%. The peak was 2018 at $172.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $138.6 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export polyester staple fiber?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $8.7 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Brazil, Ireland and the Czech Republic. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $113.7 million a year.
What is the HS code for polyester staple fiber?
The HS code for polyester staple fiber is subheading 5503.20. It sits in HS chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 5503 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World polyester staple fiber trade: top importers and exporters
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