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Polyester and other synthetic staple fiber: top exporters and importers (2024)

In 2024, world trade in polyester and other synthetic staple fiber totaled $7 billion (4.7 million tonnes). The top exporters were China (23%), South Korea (13%) and Thailand (9%); the top importers were the United States (12%), Vietnam (7%) and China (6%). Compared with 2019, the value fell 10%.

Summary

World trade
$7billion
Tonnes
4.7million tonnes
Price per tonne
$1,504
The largest flows between countries. Width: value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand

Top exporters

  1. China$1.6 billion · 23.3%
  2. South Korea$903 million · 12.8%
  3. Thailand$600 million · 8.5%
  4. Taiwan$326 million · 4.6%
  5. Japan$323 million · 4.6%
  6. India$311 million · 4.4%
  7. Turkey$306 million · 4.3%
  8. Indonesia$282 million · 4%
  9. Belgium$272 million · 3.9%
    re-exports
  10. United States$237 million · 3.4%
  11. Vietnam$232 million · 3.3%
  12. Germany$229 million · 3.3%
  13. Malaysia$135 million · 1.9%
  14. Italy$109 million · 1.5%
  15. Denmark$106 million · 1.5%
  16. Spain$91 million · 1.3%
  17. Netherlands$83 million · 1.2%
    re-exports
  18. France$77 million · 1.1%
  19. Austria$69 million · 0.97%
  20. Ireland$60 million · 0.86%

Top importers

  1. United States$823 million · 11.7%
  2. Vietnam$464 million · 6.6%
  3. China$425 million · 6%
  4. Germany$416 million · 5.9%
  5. Turkey$341 million · 4.8%
  6. Italy$277 million · 3.9%
  7. Brazil$257 million · 3.7%
  8. Spain$226 million · 3.2%
  9. India$190 million · 2.7%
  10. Pakistan$186 million · 2.6%
  11. Poland$182 million · 2.6%
  12. United Kingdom$182 million · 2.6%
  13. Indonesia$176 million · 2.5%
  14. Mexico$176 million · 2.5%
  15. Bangladesh$168 million · 2.4%
  16. Japan$165 million · 2.3%
  17. France$162 million · 2.3%
  18. Netherlands$148 million · 2.1%
    re-exports
  19. Russia$123 million · 1.7%
  20. Canada$117 million · 1.7%

Trend

Who sells it

China has been the top exporter since 2021

Value in USD billions. The five largest exporters in 2024.

  • China 1.6
  • South Korea 0.9
  • Thailand 0.6
  • Taiwan 0.33
  • Japan 0.32

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Country19952024
China0.051.6
South Korea0.820.9
Thailand0.10.6
Taiwan0.620.33
Japan0.740.32

Price

Implied price

The price per tonne fell 27% since 1995

Current US dollars per tonne: value over the weight reported by BACI.

  • 2024: $1,504

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearUSD per tonne
1995$2,064
1996$1,692
1997$1,492
1998$1,304
1999$1,146
2000$1,274
2001$1,249
2002$1,219
2003$1,355
2004$1,528
2005$1,649
2006$1,734
2007$1,893
2008$2,017
2009$1,656
2010$1,422
2011$1,685
2012$2,115
2013$2,137
2014$2,045
2015$1,717
2016$1,524
2017$1,637
2018$1,773
2019$1,595
2020$1,372
2021$1,647
2022$1,848
2023$1,544
2024$1,504

What it includes

  • 5503 · Polyester and other synthetic staple fiber

Products in the same chapter

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), which reconciles what exporters and importers report: countries that stopped reporting (Russia since 2022) appear with their partners’ data. FOB values in current US dollars; tonnes when BACI reports them. The price per tonne is the value of the rows with a weight divided by that weight. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.

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