HS Code:
The Single Yarn category (HS Code: 5206-5207) includes yarn made from cotton and other textile fibers that are not put up for retail sale. This category encompasses single yarns of varying fineness and composition, primarily used in the textile industry for weaving and knitting into fabrics. These yarns are critical raw materials in the production of clothing, home textiles, and industrial fabrics, and are traded globally in significant volumes due to the widespread demand for textile products. The category excludes yarns that are plied or cabled, focusing solely on untwisted or minimally twisted single strands.
Total Trade Volume
USD 3.2 billion
Data from 2022
Source
United Nations Comtrade Database
Average Rate
6.5%
Highest Rate
15% (applied by certain African and South American countries)
Lowest Rate
0% (under free trade agreements such as EU-India FTA for specific partners)
Shift towards sustainable and organic cotton yarns
Increased demand for eco-friendly yarns has led to higher exports from countries with certified organic cotton production like India and Turkey, while conventional producers face market share loss.
2021-2022
Rising production costs due to energy price hikes
Higher production costs in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh have reduced competitiveness, pushing buyers towards more cost-effective suppliers like Vietnam.
2022
Automation in yarn spinning technologies
Countries investing in automated spinning mills (e.g., China and India) are improving yield and quality, gaining an edge in the global market.
2020-2022
The European Union imposed provisional anti-dumping duties ranging from 5-10% on single yarn imports from India to protect domestic manufacturers, following a surge in low-cost imports.
June 2023
This is expected to reduce India's export volume to the EU by 10-15% in the short term, pushing Indian exporters to explore alternative markets like Southeast Asia.
Vietnam announced the opening of several new spinning mills with government subsidies, aiming to increase single yarn exports by 20% over the next two years.
March 2023
This development strengthens Vietnam's position as a leading exporter, potentially challenging India's dominance in the category.
A new phase of the US-China trade agreement reduced tariffs on certain textile inputs, including single yarn, benefiting Chinese exporters marginally despite overall declining trends.
January 2023
This could stabilize China's declining market share in the US, though competition from other low-cost producers remains high.