HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 50.03 – Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garnetted stock)
What HS 50.03 covers
Heading 5003 covers "Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garnetted stock)", representing the various by-products and discarded materials from silk production and processing. This classification is vital for the circular economy within the textile industry, providing raw material for spun silk yarns and non-woven applications. The scope is broad, encompassing any silk material that is not suitable for primary reeling or weaving into high-grade fabrics due to damage, short length, or tangling. This includes broken cocoons, silk noils (short fibers removed during combing), yarn waste from spinning or weaving, and garnetted stock (fibers reclaimed by tearing up textile waste). Understanding the specific forms of waste is crucial for compliance, as this material is often traded at a lower value than raw silk or virgin silk yarn. Its classification matters for customs valuation, environmental regulations, and specific trade policies aimed at encouraging recycling. As a part of Chapter 50 (Silk) and Section XI (Textiles), 5003 highlights the comprehensive approach to silk utilization, ensuring that even less-than-perfect materials find a place in the global textile market, contributing to sustainability and diverse product offerings.
- Covers
- Broken silkworm cocoons
- Cocoons unsuitable for reeling
- Silk noils
- Silk tops (from waste)
- Silk laps (from waste)
- Silk sliver (from waste)
- Silk yarn waste
- Garnetted silk stock
- Short silk fiber fragments
- Degummed silk waste
- Raw silk processing by-products
- Spun silk waste
- Waste from silk reeling
- Waste from silk throwing
- Waste from silk weaving
- Tangled silk fibers
- Silk fly
- Silk remnants
- Cocoon shells (unsuitable)
- Silk fluff
- Unreelable cocoons
- Low-grade silk filaments
- Waste from degumming processes
- Silk fiber dust
- Silk fiber off-cuts.
- Examples
A large silk reeling factory in China accumulates significant quantities of silk yarn waste and broken cocoons, which it exports as silk waste to a European manufacturer specializing in recycled textile materials for upholstery and insulation, typically shipped via container vessels from major Chinese ports to Rotterdam. An Indian textile mill generates silk noils and garnetted silk stock from its spinning operations; this waste is then sold to a Japanese company that processes it into spun silk yarns for textured fabrics and non-woven applications, often transported through established maritime routes. A Vietnamese sericulture producer sells cocoons unsuitable for reeling to a US-based company that repurposes them into natural fiber composites and specialty papers, with shipments arranged through ocean freight to various US ports.
Subheadings under 50.03 1
Codes often confused with 50.03
Common mistake. A common mistake is confusing silk waste with usable raw silk or finished yarn. Silk waste (5003) is often misclassified as 5002 (Raw silk, not thrown) if the waste still resembles raw silk but is too damaged or short for primary use. The key is its 'unsuitability for reeling' or its 'waste' nature. Another frequent error is classifying yarn *made from* silk waste under 5003; however, processed yarn from waste belongs to 5005 (Yarn spun from silk waste, not put up for retail sale). This distinction is critical as 5003 is the raw material, while 5005 is a manufactured product. Furthermore, cocoons suitable for reeling (5001) are sometimes incorrectly grouped with unsuitable cocoons in 5003, leading to incorrect valuation and tariff application.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 5003, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5003 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 35% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 43% of world imports. Uzbekistan 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 6.7% of its exports here ($758K, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $37M 35% of world exports
- 2 India $33M 31% of world exports
- 3 Germany $10M 9.5% of world exports
Uzbekistan 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 6.7% of its exports here ($758K, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
World total: $108M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $48M 43% of world imports
- 2 Italy $34M 31% of world imports
- 3 Germany $10M 9.0% of world imports
World total: $112M 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 that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. 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 50.03
What is HS code 5003?
HS code 5003 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garnetted stock). Heading 5003 covers "Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garnetted stock)", representing the various by-products and discarded materials from silk production and processing. This classification is vital for the circular economy within the textile industry, providing raw material for spun silk yarns and non-woven applications. The scope is broad, encompassing any silk material that is not suitable for primary reeling or weaving into high-grade fabrics due to damage, short length, or tangling. This includes broken cocoons, silk noils (short fibers removed during combing), yarn waste from spinning or weaving, and garnetted stock (fibers reclaimed by tearing up textile waste). Understanding the specific forms of waste is crucial for compliance, as this material is often traded at a lower value than raw silk or virgin silk yarn. Its classification matters for customs valuation, environmental regulations, and specific trade policies aimed at encouraging recycling. As a part of Chapter 50 (Silk) and Section XI (Textiles), 5003 highlights the comprehensive approach to silk utilization, ensuring that even less-than-perfect materials find a place in the global textile market, contributing to sustainability and diverse product offerings.
What products fall under HS code 5003?
Broken silkworm cocoons, cocoons unsuitable for reeling, silk noils, silk tops (from waste), silk laps (from waste), silk sliver (from waste), silk yarn waste, garnetted silk stock, short silk fiber fragments, degummed silk waste, raw silk processing by-products, spun silk waste, waste from silk reeling, waste from silk throwing, waste from silk weaving, tangled silk fibers, silk fly, silk remnants, cocoon shells (unsuitable), silk fluff, unreelable cocoons, low-grade silk filaments, waste from degumming processes, silk fiber dust, silk fiber off-cuts.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 5003?
A common mistake is confusing silk waste with usable raw silk or finished yarn. Silk waste (5003) is often misclassified as 5002 (Raw silk, not thrown) if the waste still resembles raw silk but is too damaged or short for primary use. The key is its 'unsuitability for reeling' or its 'waste' nature. Another frequent error is classifying yarn *made from* silk waste under 5003; however, processed yarn from waste belongs to 5005 (Yarn spun from silk waste, not put up for retail sale). This distinction is critical as 5003 is the raw material, while 5005 is a manufactured product. Furthermore, cocoons suitable for reeling (5001) are sometimes incorrectly grouped with unsuitable cocoons in 5003, leading to incorrect valuation and tariff application.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5003?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5003 in UN Comtrade data were China ($37M, 35% of world exports), India ($33M) and Germany ($10M). World exports came to about $108M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Uzbekistan 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 6.7% of its exports here ($758K, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 5003?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5003 in UN Comtrade data were China ($48M, 43% of world imports), Italy ($34M) and Germany ($10M). World imports came to about $112M, 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.
How is HS code 5003 structured?
HS code 5003 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 50 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (50) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (03) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.