HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 50.02 – Raw silk (not thrown)
What HS 50.02 covers
Heading 5002 specifically encompasses "Raw silk (not thrown)" within the Harmonized System. This classification is crucial for distinguishing silk in its earliest processed form from more advanced stages. 'Raw silk' here refers to the continuous filaments reeled directly from silkworm cocoons, which have undergone degumming (removal of sericin) but have not yet been twisted or 'thrown' into yarn. The critical boundary for this heading is the 'not thrown' characteristic; once the silk filaments are twisted together to impart strength and cohesion, they are classified as yarn under subsequent headings. This unprocessed state makes 5002 an essential intermediate product in the global textile supply chain, primarily destined for further manufacturing into various types of silk yarn and fabrics. Trade compliance professionals must pay close attention to the degree of processing to avoid misclassification, as tariffs, quotas, and origin rules can vary significantly between raw silk and silk yarn. Historically, raw silk has been a cornerstone of luxury textile production, with major producing nations supplying mills worldwide. This heading is part of Chapter 50, dedicated entirely to silk, and fits within Section XI, covering textiles and textile articles, emphasizing its fundamental role as a primary textile fiber before it becomes a finished good.
- Covers
- Unprocessed mulberry silk filaments
- Degummed raw silk in skeins
- Raw tussah silk (unthrown)
- Natural white raw silk (not twisted)
- Raw eri silk (unthrown)
- Un-twisted silk strands from reeling
- Multi-filament raw silk (unthrown)
- Single-filament raw silk (unthrown)
- Raw muga silk (unthrown)
- Sericin-coated raw silk (unthrown)
- Raw silk for further throwing
- Raw silk for spinning
- Raw silk in large hanks (unthrown)
- Raw silk for industrial use (not thrown)
- Un-dyed raw silk (unthrown)
- Raw silk for high-end fabric production
- Silk straight from the reeling basin
- Prime quality raw silk (not thrown)
- Raw silk from various silkworm species (unthrown)
- Raw silk for textile mills.
- Examples
A large Chinese silk farm exports several tons of premium raw mulberry silk (not thrown) in large skeins to an Italian luxury textile mill, which will process it into high-quality thrown silk yarn for weaving into designer fabrics; the shipment typically travels via ocean freight from Shanghai to Genoa. An Indian sericulture cooperative supplies raw tussah silk (unthrown) to a Japanese traditional weaving company, where it will be hand-spun and woven into unique textiles for kimonos, often transported by air cargo to ensure freshness and speed. A Vietnamese producer ships large quantities of degummed raw silk (unthrown) to a French fashion house's dedicated spinning facility, which then creates bespoke silk yarns for their haute couture collections, often using established maritime routes to European ports.
Subheadings under 50.02 1
Codes often confused with 50.02
Common mistake. Common misclassifications for 5002 often involve confusing it with more processed silk products or waste. Traders might mistakenly classify raw silk that has undergone initial twisting or 'throwing' under 5002, when it should correctly fall under 5004 (Silk yarn, other than yarn spun from silk waste, not put up for retail sale). The key differentiator is the 'not thrown' characteristic. Another error is classifying damaged or broken raw silk as 5002 instead of 5003 (Silk waste), which is specifically for silk materials unsuitable for reeling or further processing. Lastly, silkworm cocoons suitable for reeling (5001) are sometimes confused with the reeled raw silk (5002), but 5002 is the product *from* the cocoon, not the cocoon itself.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 5002, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5002 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 58% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 38% of world imports. Vietnam did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($6.8M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $225M 58% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$104M 27% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Italy $42M 11% of world exports
World total: $391M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $139M 38% of world imports
- 2 Romania $85M 23% of world imports
- 3 Italy $48M 13% of world imports
Vietnam did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($6.8M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.
World total: $368M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Questions about HS 50.02
What is HS code 5002?
HS code 5002 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Raw silk (not thrown). Heading 5002 specifically encompasses "Raw silk (not thrown)" within the Harmonized System. This classification is crucial for distinguishing silk in its earliest processed form from more advanced stages. 'Raw silk' here refers to the continuous filaments reeled directly from silkworm cocoons, which have undergone degumming (removal of sericin) but have not yet been twisted or 'thrown' into yarn. The critical boundary for this heading is the 'not thrown' characteristic; once the silk filaments are twisted together to impart strength and cohesion, they are classified as yarn under subsequent headings. This unprocessed state makes 5002 an essential intermediate product in the global textile supply chain, primarily destined for further manufacturing into various types of silk yarn and fabrics. Trade compliance professionals must pay close attention to the degree of processing to avoid misclassification, as tariffs, quotas, and origin rules can vary significantly between raw silk and silk yarn. Historically, raw silk has been a cornerstone of luxury textile production, with major producing nations supplying mills worldwide. This heading is part of Chapter 50, dedicated entirely to silk, and fits within Section XI, covering textiles and textile articles, emphasizing its fundamental role as a primary textile fiber before it becomes a finished good.
What products fall under HS code 5002?
Unprocessed mulberry silk filaments, degummed raw silk in skeins, raw tussah silk (unthrown), natural white raw silk (not twisted), raw eri silk (unthrown), un-twisted silk strands from reeling, multi-filament raw silk (unthrown), single-filament raw silk (unthrown), raw muga silk (unthrown), sericin-coated raw silk (unthrown), raw silk for further throwing, raw silk for spinning, raw silk in large hanks (unthrown), raw silk for industrial use (not thrown), un-dyed raw silk (unthrown), raw silk for high-end fabric production, silk straight from the reeling basin, prime quality raw silk (not thrown), raw silk from various silkworm species (unthrown), raw silk for textile mills.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 5002?
Common misclassifications for 5002 often involve confusing it with more processed silk products or waste. Traders might mistakenly classify raw silk that has undergone initial twisting or 'throwing' under 5002, when it should correctly fall under 5004 (Silk yarn, other than yarn spun from silk waste, not put up for retail sale). The key differentiator is the 'not thrown' characteristic. Another error is classifying damaged or broken raw silk as 5002 instead of 5003 (Silk waste), which is specifically for silk materials unsuitable for reeling or further processing. Lastly, silkworm cocoons suitable for reeling (5001) are sometimes confused with the reeled raw silk (5002), but 5002 is the product *from* the cocoon, not the cocoon itself.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5002?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5002 in UN Comtrade data were China ($225M, 58% of world exports), Vietnam (about $104M) and Italy ($42M). World exports came to about $391M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 5002?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5002 in UN Comtrade data were India ($139M, 38% of world imports), Romania ($85M) and Italy ($48M). World imports came to about $368M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Vietnam did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($6.8M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.
How is HS code 5002 structured?
HS code 5002 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 50 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (50) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (02) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.