Cotton wadding imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
The United States imported $119.9 million of cotton wadding in 2024 (21.0 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 215 countries. Value fell 5% from 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 | $119.9M | 21.0K t |
| 2023 | $126.3M | 20.8K t |
| 2022 | $126.9M | 20.4K t |
| 2021 | $88.8M | 15.7K t |
| 2020 | $91.5M | 15.0K t |
| 2019 | $79.4M | 14.4K t |
| 2018 | $79.1M | 14.2K t |
| 2017 | $72.1M | 10.2K t |
Where the United States imports cotton wadding from
The largest suppliers were China (36%), Mexico (26%), Turkey (17%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+39% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $43.1M | 36% |
| Mexico | $31.6M | 26% |
| Turkey | $20.0M | 17% |
| India | $13.5M | 11% |
| Canada | $4.1M | 3.5% |
| Japan | $2.4M | 2% |
| Italy | $851K | 0.7% |
| United Kingdom | $601K | 0.5% |
| South Korea | $591K | 0.5% |
| Dominican Republic | $471K | 0.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.72 per kg, 22% above the world average of $4.70. 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.
Cotton wadding exports from the United States
In 2024, the United States exported cotton wadding worth $29.6 million (5.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 3%. One buyer market dominates: Canada accounted for 60% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, Mexico grew fastest (+93% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $17.8M | 60% |
| Mexico | $5.4M | 18% |
| Taiwan | $732K | 2.5% |
| United Kingdom | $694K | 2.4% |
| Singapore | $568K | 1.9% |
| Australia | $563K | 1.9% |
| Germany | $348K | 1.2% |
| Costa Rica | $340K | 1.2% |
| China | $239K | 0.8% |
| Spain | $145K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States 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 States?
The United States imported cotton wadding worth $119.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 21.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 215 countries worldwide, with 11% of world imports. The value was down 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply cotton wadding to the United States?
China was the largest supplier with 36% of the value ($43.1 million), followed by Mexico (26%) and Turkey (17%). The top three together account for 79%, out of 51 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 101% on the year.
What is the average import price of cotton wadding per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.72 per kg in 2024, 22% above the world average of $4.70 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of cotton wadding to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $72.1 million in 2017 to $119.9 million in 2024, an increase of 66%. The peak was 2022 at $126.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $98.0 million a year.
Does the United States also export cotton wadding?
Yes. The United States exported $29.6 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Canada, Mexico and Taiwan. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $90.3 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 States 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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