Africa: Sewing Thread Market 2025

Sewing Thread Market Size in Africa

The African sewing thread market fell to $X in 2022, shrinking by -6% against the previous year. Overall, consumption recorded a pronounced decrease. Over the period under review, the market hit record highs at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Sewing Thread Production in Africa

In value terms, sewing thread production totaled $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2019 with an increase of 4.7%. The level of production peaked at $X in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Sewing Thread Exports

Exports in Africa

In 2022, the amount of sewing thread of man-made filaments or staple fibers exported in Africa contracted to X tons, waning by -2.6% on 2021. Total exports indicated a strong expansion from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +7.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +6.1% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when exports increased by 38% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports attained the maximum at X tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, sewing thread exports declined to $X in 2022. In general, exports, however, saw a prominent expansion. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when exports increased by 39%. The level of export peaked at $X in 2021, and then dropped in the following year.

Exports by Country

Egypt dominates exports structure, recording X tons, which was approx. 77% of total exports in 2022. Mauritius (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total exports with a 6.7% share, followed by South Africa (5.1%) and Tunisia (4.9%). The following exporters - Morocco (X tons) and Rwanda (X tons) - each amounted to a 3.9% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to sewing thread exports from Egypt stood at +7.0%. At the same time, Rwanda (+103.1%), Morocco (+24.5%), Tunisia (+10.6%), Mauritius (+9.2%) and South Africa (+3.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Rwanda emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in Africa, with a CAGR of +103.1% from 2012-2022. Rwanda (+1.7 p.p.) and Morocco (+1.7 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total exports, while Egypt and South Africa saw its share reduced by -1.8% and -2.1% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Egypt ($X) remains the largest sewing thread supplier in Africa, comprising 85% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Mauritius ($X), with a 5.4% share of total exports. It was followed by South Africa, with a 3.4% share.

In Egypt, sewing thread exports expanded at an average annual rate of +10.2% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Mauritius (+14.6% per year) and South Africa (+1.4% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in Africa amounted to $X per ton, reducing by -12.3% against the previous year. Export price indicated a modest expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, sewing thread export price increased by +64.2% against 2017 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 an increase of 36%. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2021, and then dropped in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Egypt ($X per ton), while Rwanda ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Mauritius (+4.9%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Sewing Thread Imports

Imports in Africa

In 2022, approx. X tons of sewing thread of man-made filaments or staple fibers were imported in Africa; declining by -3% compared with the previous year's figure. Over the period under review, imports recorded a mild downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when imports increased by 29%. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons. From 2014 to 2022, the growth of imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, sewing thread imports reduced to $X in 2022. In general, imports saw a slight decline. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when imports increased by 19%. The level of import peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

Nigeria was the largest importer of sewing thread of man-made filaments or staple fibers in Africa, with the volume of imports reaching X tons, which was near 25% of total imports in 2022. Morocco (X tons) took the second position in the ranking, followed by Ghana (X tons) and Tunisia (X tons). All these countries together held approx. 23% share of total imports. Kenya (X tons), South Africa (X tons), Ethiopia (X tons), Madagascar (X tons), Tanzania (X tons), Senegal (X tons), Egypt (X tons), Djibouti (X tons) and Burkina Faso (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to sewing thread imports into Nigeria stood at -4.7%. At the same time, Madagascar (+14.9%), Djibouti (+11.3%), Burkina Faso (+8.5%), Tanzania (+3.5%), Tunisia (+2.9%), South Africa (+1.5%) and Morocco (+1.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Madagascar emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in Africa, with a CAGR of +14.9% from 2012-2022. Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia and Ghana experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Egypt (-15.0%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Madagascar (+2.5 p.p.), Tunisia (+2.2 p.p.), Morocco (+1.8 p.p.) and Djibouti (+1.7 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total imports, while Egypt and Nigeria saw its share reduced by -9.6% and -10.6% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest sewing thread importing markets in Africa were Tunisia ($X), Morocco ($X) and Ghana ($X), with a combined 38% share of total imports. Madagascar, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Djibouti, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Burkina Faso lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 36%.

Madagascar, with a CAGR of +20.1%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in Africa amounted to $X per ton, declining by -9.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the import price, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 an increase of 34% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, import prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Tunisia ($X per ton), while Nigeria ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Madagascar (+4.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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