Sewing threads spools

International sales for shipments of sewing threads totaled US$2 billion in 2025, reducing by -6.3% since 5 years earlier in 2021 when the global total was $2.15 billion.

Year over year, worldwide export sales of sewing threads expanded by 4.4% compared to $1.93 billion during 2024.

Breaking down that overall total, sewing threads from man-made filaments were worth $1.27 billion in 2025 compared to $637.1 million for sewing threads created from man-made staple fibers. Cotton sewing threads accounted for a smaller amount specifically $110.9 million in export sales during 2025.

Overall, the 5 biggest exporters of all sewing threads are mainland China, Germany, United States of America, Vietnam and Romania. Combined, that quintet of leading international suppliers sold nearly two-thirds (64.7%) of globally exported sewing threads during 2025.

From a continental perspective, suppliers in Asia shipped just over three-fifths (61.4%) of overall exported sewing threads trailed by exporters in Europe at 25.3%. Smaller percentages came from North America (5.4%), Latin America (4.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (3.5%) then Oceania (0.04%) led by Australia.

The four-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefixes are: 5204 for cotton sewing threads; 5401 for sewing threads from man-made filaments; and 5508 for sewing threads from man-made staple fibers.

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 84.7% of all sewing threads exported in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing sewing threads exporters over the 5-year period starting in 2021 were: Honduras (up 32,764%), Vietnam (up 37.1%), France (up 22.7%) and Romania (up 15.1%).

Listed countries that posted declines in their exported sewing threads sales were led by: Hong Kong (down -48.7% from 2021), Japan (down -29.2%), Egypt (down -23.3%), United States of America (down -18.8%) and Germany (down -13.7%).

The value of exported sewing threads made from cotton accelerated by 11.8% from $99.2 million in 2024 to $110.9 million one year later for 2025.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of cotton sewing threads during 2025.

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 84.9% of globally exported cotton sewing threads in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of cotton sewing threads since 2021 were: Honduras (up 452,950%), Costa Rica (up 59.3%), Guatemala (up 58.3%) and Pakistan (up 52.5%).

Listed countries that posted declines in their exported cotton sewing threads sales were led by: France (down -45.4% from 2021), Dominican Republic (down -27.5%), United States of America (down -11.8%), mainland China (down -5.8%) and the Czech Republic (down -2.6%).

The value of exported sewing threads consisting of man-made filaments rose 5.2% to $1.267 billion during 2025 compared to $1.205 billion in 2024.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sewing threads from man-made filaments during 2025.

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 85.2% of globally exported man-made filament sewing threads in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of man-made filament sewing threads since 2024 were: Honduras (up 2293700%), France (up 264.5%), Vietnam (up 18.5%) and India (up 17.7%).

Listed countries that posted declines in their exported man-made filament sewing threads sales were: Czech Republic (down -20.6% from 2021), Germany (down -8.3%), Hong Kong (down -6.6%), United States of America (down -3.1%) and Türkiye (down -1.5%).

The value of exported sewing threads consisting of man-made staple fibers slowed by -15.7% from $627.4 million in 2024 to $637.1 million during 2025.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sewing threads from man-made staple fibers during 2025.

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 88.9% of globally exported man-made staple fiber sewing threads in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of man-made staple fiber sewing threads since 2021 were: Czech Republic (up 105.5%), Oman (up 49.1%), Israel (up 37.7%) and the Netherlands (up 13.4%).

Listed countries that posted declines in their exported man-made staple fiber sewing threads sales were led by: France (down -25.3% from 2021), South Korea (down -21.2%), Türkiye (down -15.4%), Indonesia (down -10.8%) and Germany (down -4.9%).
 

See also Top Exported Baby Clothing Sales, T-shirt Exports by Country and Leather Shoes Exports by Country

Research Sources:
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on October 23, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on October 23, 2026

The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on October 23, 2026

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on October 23, 2026

Wikipedia, Thread (Yarn). Accessed on October 23, 2026