In 2007-2011, sales of cotton yarn in the world rose by 14.4%, from 12.2 million metric tons to 14 million metric tons. In 2008 and 2009, sales of cotton yarn decreased by 2.7% and 3.9% respectively. The global economic crisis had a major impact on consumption of textile goods all over the world. In 2008 and 2009, cotton spinning lowered in the majority of consuming countries including India and China. In 2010 - 2011, the volume of cotton yarn sales increased by 19.2% and 2.6% against the previous years.

India and China are traditionally the biggest sellers of cotton yarn. Pakistan is ranked in the third by the sales volume. The share of these three countries in the total volume of cotton yarn sales was between 60.3% in 2007 and 62.8% in 2011.    

According to BusinesStat estimates, the world sales of cotton yarn will be going up on average by 2.1% per annum in 2012-2016. In 2016, the volume of sales will reach 15.6 million metric tons. The increase in domestic demand for cotton yarn is conditioned by the high growth rates of textile industry, ready-made clothes in particular. Sanitary and ecological purity are the main advantages of cotton clothing. Cotton items are long worn because of high density, they are air-permeable and moisture absorbable.

In 2006-2010,according to BusinesStat estimates, supply of flax yarn in Russia went down by 68%: from 39 thousand tons to 12 thousand tons. The import volume of flax yarn decreased by 79%: from 877 tons to 184 tons. Only 9 countries have imported flax yarn into Russia in recent years. China is traditionally considered to be the main importing country. In 2010, China imported 183 tons of flax yarn into Russia, which amounted to 99.5% of the total import volume. In 2006-2010, the average import price of flax yarn reduced by 16.9%: from 6.57 dollars per kg in 2006 to 5.46 dollars per kg in 2010.

In 2010, the leading importers of flax yarn into Russia were Chinese companies Zhejiang Golden Eagle, Huzhou Aksiang, Shenzhen Star Textiles, Italian company Remer Rubinetterie, and a German one, Enders.

In 2006-2009, the sales volume of yarn in Russia decreased from 354.1 thousand tons to 253.4 thousand tons. In 2010, amid the economic redevelopment after the crisis, the sales volume went up by 3.7%, compared to the previous year, and amounted to 262.8 thousand tons. According to BusinesStat estimates, in 2011-2015  the sales volume of yarn will be gradually increasing, and by 2015 it will have reached 306.8 thousand tons.

In 2010, the import share of the total volume of supply of yarn in the Russian market was growing steadily, and equaled 28%.  According to BusinesStat estimates, in 2015 the share of imported produce in the yarn market will reach 51% of the demand volume.

More than 70 countries import yarn into Russia. Traditionally, the main country-mporters are Uzbekistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Bangladesh and China.  Cotton yarn amounted to 70%, chemical fibres to 15%, and other yarn types to 15% of all import deliveries.