Global sales for sewing thread exports reached a total of US$2.18 billion in 2022, marking a 3.6% increase from 2018 when the value was $2.1 billion. Year-over-year, the value saw a modest rise of 1.3% from $2.15 billion in 2021.

Breaking down the total value, sewing threads made from man-made filaments amounted to $1.3 billion in 2022, with those from man-made staple fibers contributing $762.9 million. Cotton sewing threads represented a smaller share, with export sales totaling $121.1 million for the year.

The top 5 exporters of sewing threads in 2022 were mainland China, Germany, the United States, Hong Kong, and Egypt. Together, these countries accounted for nearly two-thirds (63.7%) of global sewing thread exports.

From a regional perspective, Asian suppliers dominated the market, contributing about 60.5% of total exports. Europe followed with 27.3%, while North America accounted for 6%, Africa for 4%, and Latin America (excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean) for 2.2%. Oceania, led by Australia, had the smallest share at 0.2%.

The relevant Harmonized Tariff System codes are 5204 for cotton sewing threads, 5401 for threads from man-made filaments, and 5508 for threads from man-made staple fibers.

Top Exporters of Sewing Threads (All Materials)

Below are the 15 leading countries by value of sewing thread exports in 2022:

1. China: US$921.9 million (42.3% of global exports)

2. Germany: $213.5 million (9.8%)

3. United States: $124.1 million (5.7%)

4. Hong Kong: $68.4 million (3.1%)

5. Egypt: $60.9 million (2.8%)

6. Romania: $57 million (2.6%)

7. Turkey: $54.3 million (2.5%)

8. Italy: $45.7 million (2.1%)

9. United Kingdom: $42.7 million (2%)

10. Hungary: $38.3 million (1.8%)

11. Vietnam: $37.9 million (1.7%)

12. India: $35.1 million (1.6%)

13. South Korea: $34.4 million (1.6%)

14. Kyrgyzstan: $33.2 million (1.5%)

15. Japan: $29.3 million (1.3%)

These countries collectively accounted for 82.4% of global sewing thread exports in 2022. The most significant growth in exports from 2018 to 2022 was seen in Kyrgyzstan (up 24,456%), Egypt (up 55.7%), Vietnam (up 13.4%), and Romania (up 12.7%). In contrast, notable declines were recorded in Hong Kong (down 38.7%), South Korea (down 27.6%), Hungary (down 25.7%), Japan (down 23.9%), and the United States (down 14.5%).

Top Exporters of Cotton Sewing Threads

The export value of cotton sewing threads saw a decrease of 6.3%, from $122.4 million in 2021 to $121.1 million in 2022. Leading exporters of cotton sewing threads in 2022 included:

1. China: US$28.1 million (23.2%)

2. India: $15.6 million (12.9%)

3. Pakistan: $8.7 million (7.2%)

4. Italy: $7.8 million (6.4%)

5. Vietnam: $5.2 million (4.3%)

6. Germany: $4.2 million (3.5%)

7. United States: $3.8 million (3.1%)

8. Turkey: $3.2 million (2.7%)

9. Costa Rica: $2.7 million (2.3%)

10. France: $2.6 million (2.2%)

11. Honduras: $2.6 million (2.1%)

12. Spain: $2.53 million (2.1%)

13. Slovenia: $2.52 million (2.1%)

14. Thailand: $2.51 million (2.1%)

15. Dominican Republic: $2.38 million (2%)

These countries accounted for 78.1% of global cotton sewing thread exports in 2022. Significant increases since 2021 were seen in Honduras (up 32,200%), Vietnam (up 1,487%), Costa Rica (up 247.5%), and the Dominican Republic (up 159.6%). Conversely, the biggest declines were in Turkey (down 71.4%), Spain (down 38.3%), India (down 21.7%), Germany (down 16.3%), and Italy (down 16.3%).

Top Exporters of Man-made Filament Sewing Threads

Exports of sewing threads made from man-made filaments grew by 2.3% from $1.27 billion in 2021 to $1.3 billion in 2022. The leading exporters in this category were:

1. China: US$439.3 million (33.9%)

2. Germany: $193.6 million (14.9%)

3. United States: $105.7 million (8.2%)

4. Romania: $52.1 million (4%)

5. United Kingdom: $40.1 million (3.1%)

6. Hong Kong: $39.1 million (3%)

7. Egypt: $32.9 million (2.54%)

8. Italy: $32.4 million (2.5%)

9. Turkey: $32 million (2.47%)

10. Hungary: $29.8 million (2.3%)

11. Japan: $23.3 million (1.8%)

12. Czech Republic: $22.4 million (1.7%)

13. Vietnam: $22.1 million (1.71%)

14. Honduras: $22.1 million (1.7%)

15. South Korea: $21.5 million (1.66%)

These 15 countries accounted for 85.5% of man-made filament sewing thread exports in 2022. Significant growth was observed in Honduras (up 41,545%), the United States (up 17.1%), the United Kingdom (up 11.6%), and mainland China (up 9.9%). The largest declines were in Vietnam (down 39.1%), Hong Kong (down 23.9%), Japan (down 18.1%), Egypt (down 17.5%), and Germany (down 2.4%).

Top Exporters of Man-made Staple Fiber Sewing Threads

The value of man-made staple fiber sewing threads exports saw a slight increase of 0.9%, from $755.9 million in 2021 to $762.9 million in 2022. The top exporters in this category included:

1. China: US$454.5 million (59.6%)

2. Kyrgyzstan: $33.1 million (4.3%)

3. Hong Kong: $28.2 million (3.7%)

4. Egypt: $25.8 million (3.4%)

5. Turkey: $19.1 million (2.5%)

6. Netherlands: $16.7 million (2.2%)

7. Germany: $15.6 million (2%)

8. France: $15.5 million (2%)

9. United States: $14.7 million (1.9%)

10. South Korea: $12.3 million (1.6%)

11. Israel: $11.2 million (1.5%)

12. Vietnam: $10.5 million (1.4%)

13. Indonesia: $9.8 million (1.3%)

14. Hungary: $7.4 million (1%)

15. Sri Lanka: $7.3 million (1%)

These countries accounted for 89.4% of man-made staple fiber sewing thread exports in 2022. Notable growth was seen in Kyrgyzstan (up 110,397%), Turkey (up 42%), the Netherlands (up 12.4%), and Indonesia (up 10.2%). The largest declines were in Israel (down 36.9%), Hong Kong (down 35.9%), Sri Lanka (down 28.7%), South Korea (down 17%), and Egypt (down 14.2%).

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