🇬🇧 United Kingdom imports of synthetic staple fibre: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Kingdom imported synthetic staple fibre worth $178.5 million (121.1 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. 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 $238.0 million.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of synthetic staple fibre by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $178.5M | 121.1K t |
| 2023 | $179.0M | 124.2K t |
| 2022 | $221.4M | 129.2K t |
| 2021 | $226.5M | 142.0K t |
| 2020 | $176.2M | 131.0K t |
| 2019 | $214.8M | 143.7K t |
| 2018 | $238.0M | 152.6K t |
| 2017 | $203.2M | 147.0K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports synthetic staple fibre from
The largest suppliers were Indonesia (14%), South Korea (14%), Vietnam (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 40%. Among the main suppliers, Indonesia grew fastest (+57% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | $25.8M | 15% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $25.7M | 14% |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | $20.3M | 11% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $16.2M | 9.1% |
| Taiwan | $14.9M | 8.3% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $14.0M | 7.9% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $10.4M | 5.8% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $9.1M | 5.1% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $6.6M | 3.7% |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | $5.5M | 3.1% |
Types of synthetic staple fibre under HS 5503
| 5503.20 | Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | 69% |
| 5503.90 | Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of synthetic materials n.e.c. in heading no. 5503, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | 11% |
| 5503.40 | Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of polypropylene, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | 9.1% |
| 5503.19 | Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of nylon or other polyamides other than aramids, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | 6% |
| 5503.30 | Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, acrylic or modacrylic, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | 3.1% |
| 5503.11 | Fibres: synthetic staple fibres, of aramids, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning | 2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 5503.
Average import price of synthetic staple fibre
The average declared value was about $1.47 per kg, close to the world average of $1.51.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Kingdom also exports synthetic staple fibre
Exports of synthetic staple fibre by the United Kingdom reached $31.0 million in 2024 (8.8 thousand tonnes). Most of it went to Italy (13%), Germany (11%), China (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 33%. Among the main buyer markets, Ireland grew fastest (+72% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $3.9M | 13% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $3.5M | 11% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $3.0M | 9.7% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $2.8M | 9% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $2.0M | 6.6% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $1.4M | 4.6% |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | $1.4M | 4.5% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $1.3M | 4.1% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $1.1M | 3.7% |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | $1.1M | 3.5% |
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 5503: Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning.
Synthetic staple fibre trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of synthetic staple fibre imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported synthetic staple fibre worth $178.5 million in 2024 (121.1 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import synthetic staple fibre from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Indonesia (14%), South Korea (14%), Vietnam (11%).
What is the average import price of synthetic staple fibre in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $1.47 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $1.51 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export synthetic staple fibre?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported synthetic staple fibre worth $31.0 million in 2024, mainly to Italy, Germany, China.
What is the HS code for synthetic staple fibre?
Synthetic staple fibre falls under HS heading 5503 (Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading synthetic staple fibre 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.
Synthetic staple fibre trade in other countries
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