Global fiber export shrinks

Fiber exports around the world in 2019 declined by 10.9% amounting to 34 billion dollars, according to the ITC Trade Map report, which evaluates the global fiber product group foreign trade. The USA, which is the largest exporter in the fiber product group accounting for 21.1% of exports, exported 7 billion dollars of fiber exports in 2019.

The fiber used as a raw material in the furniture, textile, mattress and automotive industries, plays an active role in the economy of many countries in the global market. The ITC Trade Map report, which allows us to access a lot of data on global fiber export and import rates, contains important information about countries’ fiber production and fiber import and export rates.

No significant change has been observed in fiber exports in the last 10 years. The USA took the leading position with a share of 21.1% of exports according to 2019 data. Australia took second place with a share of 9.7 percent. It has been observed that sub product groups maintained their shares in the report in which the fiber product group foreign trade was also evaluated on the basis of sub-product groups. China ranked first in all except silk fibre in all sub product groups.

Turkey is the world’s second largest fiber importer

It has been noted that the fiber imports in 2019 decreased by 11.4 percent compared to the previous year and amounted to 37 billion dollars according to the global fiber import data. China ranked first with a 25.3 percent share in fiber imports. Turkey followed China as the second largest importer of fiber with a share of 8.4 percent. Turkey’s fiber imports in 2019 increased by 4.4 percent compared to the previous year and reached the value of 2.9 billion dollars. Another remarkable detail in the last five years of fiber import data is that India’s import rate has increased over the years, reaching a share of 6.1 percent in 2019.

Cotton fiber ranks first in the sub-product group exports

World fiber exports, which have increased by 3 billion dollars in the last 5 years, valued at a total of 34.4 billion dollars in 2019. Cotton fiber was the largest with a 43.9 percent share when the fiber exports are analyzed based on sub-product groups. Cotton fiber exports, which decreased by 8.5 percent in 2019, amounted to the value of 15 billion dollars. An increase of 3 billion dollars has been observed in the cotton fiber exports in the last 5 years.

Product group shares in fiber exports

Synthetic artificial fibers took the second place with a share of 32.2 percent in the world fiber exports. Synthetic artificial fiber exports decreased by 11.2 percent and amounted to 11 billion dollars in 2019. It has been observed that synthetic artificial fiber exports have not changed significantly in the last 5 years.

Fiber exports from wool and fine-coarse animal hair, which ranked third, decreased by 21.1 percent in 2019. Exports of fiber from wool and fine-coarse animal hair had a 17 percent share in world fiber exports and it was worth 5.8 billion dollars. Exports of fiber from wool and fine-coarse animal hair, which reached their highest level in 2018, amounted to 7.4 billion dollars.

Turkey is the eighth largest exporter of cotton fiber

Turkey was the world’s eighth largest cotton fiber exporter according to the ITC Tredemap data. Cotton fiber exports from Turkey decreased by 7.6 percent in 2019, with exports valued at 228 million dollars and a share of 1.5 percent on the global scale.

China has the leading position in world fiber imports. The second place belongs to Turkey

China ranked first with a share of 25.3 percent in world fiber imports. Turkey followed China as the second largest importer of fiber with a share of 8.4 percent. China’s fiber import decreased by 5 percent in 2019 and amounted to 8.7 billion dollars according to the statistical data. Turkey, the second country in the world for fiber imports, increased its import rate by 4.4 percent in 2019.  Turkey’s export value was 2.8 billion dollars.

Fiber imports decreased by 10.9 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year

In 2019, fiber imports decreased by 10.9 percent compared to the previous year and amounted to 34.4 billion dollars in total. There has been a 3 billion dollar increase within the last five years when fiber imports were analyzed over this period. However, there was also a decline in fiber imports parallel to the decline in global textile and raw materials imports in 2019.

The most noteworthy product group in fiber imports: Cotton fibers

Cotton fibers are amongst the outstanding product group in fiber imports with a share of 44.3 percent. Cotton fiber imports increased by 2 billion dollars in the last 5 years and amounted to 15.2 billion dollars in 2019. However, cotton fiber imports decreased by 7.2 percent in 2019.

Turkey is the EU’s third largest importer of fiber

When the fiber imports in the EU in 2019 are reviewed, it has been noted that fiber imports by the EU amounted to 2896 thousand tons with a decrease of 4.1% on basis of quantity, or 6.4 billion dollars with 4.6% decrease on value basis. China is the largest fiber importer from the EU outside the EU, with a share of 12.9%. In 2019, China made 173 thousand tons of fiber imports, worth 840 million Euros based on fiber import values. Turkey is the EU’s third largest importer of fiber and has a 3.5% share of the import market. Fiber imports from Turkey in 2019 was were worth 222 million Euros on a value basis and were worth 153 thousand tons on a quantity basis.

Turkey experienced a decrease in fiber exports in 2019

Turkey’s fiber exports in 2019 decreased by 13.7%, to a value of 638 billion dollars. Fiber exports to the EU countries in 2019 decreased by 6.6% and totaled 224 million dollars. EU countries have a 35.1% share in Turkey’s fiber exports.

Iran ranked first with a share of 19.8% regarding Turkey’s fiber exports. In 2019, exports to Iran increased by 8.5% and amounted to 126 million dollars.

Exports to Italy ranked second in 2019. They amounted to 9% share of exports and valued 57 million dollars. Italy’s exports in 2019 decreased by 8.2%. Germany was the third largest market for Turkish fiber exports. Fiber exports to Germany increased by 12.4% and were valued at 44 million dollars.

The biggest growth rate in Turkey’s fiber exports to the top 10 markets in exports was in Pakistan. The growth rate of fiber exports to Pakistan was 25%. The biggest decrease recorded was the 70.7% decrease in exports to China in 2019. Exports to the top 10 countries constituted 62.6% of Turkey’s fiber exports.

Turkey increased its fiber import rate in 2019

Turkey’s fiber imports in 2019 increased by 5.3% and amounted to 2.9 trillion dollars. USA was the top country exporting fiber to Turkey with a 22.7% share. In 2019, imports from the USA decreased by 13.7% and amounted to 659 million dollars.

Greece was the second biggest country exporting to Turkey with a 9.9% share. Turkey’s 2019 imports increased by 123% and amounted to 288 billion dollars.

China ranked third in fiber imports with a share of 9%. Imports from China were valued at 260 million dollars. Brazil came fourth with a 231 million dollars value. Imports from Brazil increased by 36.3% and had an 8% share of the market.

Azerbaijan was noteworthy in the top 10 countries Turkey imports from. Imports from Azerbaijan increased by 67.5%. On the other hand, the most significant decline was observed in imports from Thailand. In 2019, imports from Thailand decreased by 32.4% and amounted to 78 billion dollars in total.