UN Comtrade • Latest complete year: 2024
52 - Cotton (HS 52)
Global exports
$47.52B
Global imports
$32.13B
Top exporter share
22.8%
Top importer share
29.0%
- In 2024, global exports of Cotton (HS2 52) amounted to $47.5B.
- China led global exports of Cotton (HS2 52) with $10.8B, representing 22.8% of the total.
- India was a significant exporter, accounting for $6.4B or 13.6% of Cotton (HS2 52) exports.
- The United States exported $6.2B worth of Cotton (HS2 52), making up 13.0% of global exports.
- Global imports of Cotton (HS2 52) reached $32.1B in 2024.
- China was also the top importer of Cotton (HS2 52), with imports totaling $9.3B (29.0%).
Cotton (HS2 52) Global Trade Overview in 2024
In 2024, the global trade for Cotton (HS2 52) recorded substantial figures, with total exports reaching $47.5B and total imports valued at $32.1B. This product category encompasses various forms of cotton, from raw not carded or combed to woven fabrics. Major exporting nations such as China, India, and the United States play a crucial role in supplying the global demand for cotton. On the import side, countries like China, Türkiye, and Indonesia are primary destinations for these products.
See also: ChinaIndiaUnited StatesTürkiyeIndonesia
Leading Exporters and Importers of Cotton (HS2 52)
Analyzing the 2024 data, China emerged as the top exporter of Cotton (HS2 52), with exports valued at $10.8B, representing 22.8% of the global share. Following closely were India with $6.4B (13.6%) and the United States with $6.2B (13.0%). Other notable exporters included Brazil ($5.3B) and Pakistan ($2.7B). For imports, China also dominated, bringing in $9.3B of Cotton (HS2 52), accounting for 29.0% of worldwide imports. Türkiye was the second-largest importer with $2.4B (7.4%), followed by Indonesia with $1.5B (4.7%).
Quick insights
- China is the top exporter (22.8% of reported exports).
- China is the top importer (29.0% of reported imports).
- Top 3 exporter concentration: 49.4%.
- Top 5 exporter concentration: 66.1%.
Notes: Shares are relative to reported totals in the dataset for the selected year.
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Cotton - product groups (4-digit) by top countries (Exports), 2024 (USD)
Top 10 countries with the leading 6 product groups (4-digit); remainder grouped as Other.
Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
Cotton - country rank by trade value (Exports), 2015-2024 (USD)
Ranks show the top 10 countries by latest-year value (rank 1 is largest).
Flow: Exports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
Global export trend
Cotton - exports over time (Exports), 2015-2024 (USD)
Annual reported exports across available years.
Flow: Exports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
HS4 drilldown
Built: 2026-01-12T08:07:47Z • Snapshot: 20251222
HS4 subcategories within HS 52 for 2024 (partner = World). Values are summed across reporting economies; coverage varies by reporter and year.
Exports
Coverage vs HS2: 99.6%
Cotton - top 4-digit product groups by export share (Exports), 2024 (USD)
Leading 4-digit product groups by export value.
Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
| HS4 | Subcategory | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5201 | Cotton; not carded or combed | $16.69B | 35.1% |
| 5205 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | $8.86B | 18.6% |
| 5208 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $8.83B | 18.6% |
| 5209 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $5.54B | 11.6% |
| 5211 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $3.31B | 7.0% |
| 5210 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $1.45B | 3.1% |
| 5206 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | $1.01B | 2.1% |
| 5212 | Other woven fabrics of cotton,… | $608.86M | 1.3% |
| 5202 | Cotton waste (including yarn wa… | $420.87M | 0.9% |
| 5207 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | $336.84M | 0.7% |
| 5203 | Cotton, carded or combed | $172.30M | 0.4% |
| 5204 | Cotton sewing thread, whether o… | $95.66M | 0.2% |
Subcategory names are truncated; hover to see the full description.
Fastest-growing HS4 (CAGR 2019–2024)
Filter: start-year value ≥ $1.00M
| HS4 | Subcategory | CAGR | 2024 value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5207 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | 5.4% | $336.84M |
| 5202 | Cotton waste (including yarn wa… | 5.2% | $420.87M |
| 5201 | Cotton; not carded or combed | 2.2% | $16.69B |
| 5209 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | -3.0% | $5.54B |
| 5212 | Other woven fabrics of cotton,… | -3.1% | $608.86M |
| 5211 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | -3.5% | $3.31B |
| 5204 | Cotton sewing thread, whether o… | -4.7% | $95.66M |
| 5205 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | -5.8% | $8.86B |
Imports
Coverage vs HS2: 99.4%
Cotton - top 4-digit product groups by import share (Imports), 2024 (USD)
Leading 4-digit product groups by import value.
Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
| HS4 | Subcategory | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5201 | Cotton; not carded or combed | $11.29B | 35.1% |
| 5205 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | $7.49B | 23.3% |
| 5208 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $4.62B | 14.4% |
| 5209 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $3.90B | 12.1% |
| 5211 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $1.65B | 5.1% |
| 5206 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | $1.10B | 3.4% |
| 5210 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | $680.95M | 2.1% |
| 5207 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | $389.48M | 1.2% |
| 5202 | Cotton waste (including yarn wa… | $318.13M | 1.0% |
| 5212 | Other woven fabrics of cotton,… | $272.42M | 0.8% |
| 5204 | Cotton sewing thread, whether o… | $108.97M | 0.3% |
| 5203 | Cotton, carded or combed | $108.53M | 0.3% |
Subcategory names are truncated; hover to see the full description.
Fastest-growing HS4 (CAGR 2019–2024)
Filter: start-year value ≥ $1.00M
| HS4 | Subcategory | CAGR | 2024 value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5202 | Cotton waste (including yarn wa… | 0.4% | $318.13M |
| 5207 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | -0.6% | $389.48M |
| 5206 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | -2.8% | $1.10B |
| 5201 | Cotton; not carded or combed | -3.2% | $11.29B |
| 5205 | Cotton yarn (other than sewing… | -5.1% | $7.49B |
| 5208 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | -5.7% | $4.62B |
| 5209 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | -6.0% | $3.90B |
| 5211 | Woven fabrics of cotton, contai… | -6.6% | $1.65B |
Explore country profiles
Jump from this HS2 product to the country trade pages for the largest exporters and importers.
Top exporters
Top trade routes
Top exporter → importer routes among the largest exporters (bounded at build-time).
| Exporter | Importer | Value | Share of exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| India (IND) | Bangladesh (BGD) | $2.70B | 5.7% |
| China (CHN) | Bangladesh (BGD) | $2.28B | 4.8% |
| Brazil (BRA) | China (CHN) | $1.73B | 3.6% |
| China (CHN) | Viet Nam (VNM) | $1.69B | 3.6% |
| USA (USA) | China (CHN) | $1.49B | 3.1% |
| Brazil (BRA) | Viet Nam (VNM) | $1.01B | 2.1% |
| USA (USA) | Pakistan (PAK) | $771.99M | 1.6% |
| China (CHN) | Cambodia (KHM) | $757.75M | 1.6% |
| Australia (AUS) | China (CHN) | $713.09M | 1.5% |
| USA (USA) | Honduras (HND) | $633.26M | 1.3% |
| Australia (AUS) | Viet Nam (VNM) | $608.38M | 1.3% |
| Brazil (BRA) | Bangladesh (BGD) | $607.22M | 1.3% |
| Pakistan (PAK) | Bangladesh (BGD) | $593.94M | 1.2% |
| USA (USA) | Viet Nam (VNM) | $582.01M | 1.2% |
| Brazil (BRA) | Pakistan (PAK) | $519.91M | 1.1% |
Data notes & methodology
Source: UN Comtrade
Exports total: $47.52B • Imports total: $32.13B
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