HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 5006.00 – Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste; put up for retail sale, and silk-worm gut
HS code 5006.00 is the 6-digit subheading for silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste, put up for retail sale, and silk-worm gut. It is used for retail silk yarn skeins, silk embroidery thread, silk knitting yarn balls, silk crochet yarn and silk-worm gut.
What HS 5006.00 covers
This HS code covers both types of silk yarn – those made from continuous raw silk filaments and those spun from silk waste – specifically when they are put up in small packages for retail sale, such as skeins, balls, or on cards, intended for consumers. It also includes silk-worm gut, a strong, fine strand historically used for fishing leaders or surgical sutures. The primary trade in this category involves finished consumer products rather than industrial raw materials. Exporters are often countries with established textile finishing industries and strong brands, including China, Italy, and Japan, which package and market these yarns. Importers are typically retail distributors, craft stores, and specialty shops worldwide, catering to hobbyists, knitters, weavers, and embroiderers. The value in this trade lies in branding, packaging, and the perceived quality and origin of the silk. Silk-worm gut, while a niche product, is traded by specialized suppliers.
- Covers
- Retail silk yarn skeins
- Silk embroidery thread
- Silk knitting yarn balls
- Silk crochet yarn
- Silk-worm gut
- Packaged silk yarn for crafts
- Silk floss
- Examples
- DMC silk embroidery floss
- Habu Textiles silk yarn
- Treenway Silks retail yarn
- Pearsall's Gossamer silk thread
- Cortland silk-worm gut
Codes often confused with 5006.00
Common mistake. This code is distinguished from 500400 and 500500 by the "put up for retail sale" criterion; the yarn itself might be the same, but the packaging changes the classification. Silk-worm gut is a unique inclusion here.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 500600, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 500600 in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 13% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Nigeria, with 31% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $1.0M 13% of world exports
- 2 India $990K 13% of world exports
- 3 Germany $817K 11% of world exports
World total: $7.6M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Nigeria $4.9M 31% of world imports
- 2 United States $3.0M 19% of world imports
- 3 India $1.0M 6.5% of world imports
World total: $16M 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.
Brazil NCM code for 5006.00
Brazil does not split HS 5006.00: its NCM code is 5006.00.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 50.06 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 5006.00
What is HS code 500600?
HS code 500600 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste; put up for retail sale, and silk-worm gut. This HS code covers both types of silk yarn – those made from continuous raw silk filaments and those spun from silk waste – specifically when they are put up in small packages for retail sale, such as skeins, balls, or on cards, intended for consumers. It also includes silk-worm gut, a strong, fine strand historically used for fishing leaders or surgical sutures. The primary trade in this category involves finished consumer products rather than industrial raw materials. Exporters are often countries with established textile finishing industries and strong brands, including China, Italy, and Japan, which package and market these yarns. Importers are typically retail distributors, craft stores, and specialty shops worldwide, catering to hobbyists, knitters, weavers, and embroiderers. The value in this trade lies in branding, packaging, and the perceived quality and origin of the silk. Silk-worm gut, while a niche product, is traded by specialized suppliers.
What products fall under HS code 500600?
Retail silk yarn skeins, Silk embroidery thread, Silk knitting yarn balls, Silk crochet yarn, Silk-worm gut, Packaged silk yarn for crafts, Silk floss
What are common misclassifications for HS code 500600?
This code is distinguished from 500400 and 500500 by the "put up for retail sale" criterion; the yarn itself might be the same, but the packaging changes the classification. Silk-worm gut is a unique inclusion here.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 500600?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 500600 in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($1.0M, 13% of world exports), India ($990K) and Germany ($817K). World exports came to about $7.6M, 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 500600?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 500600 in UN Comtrade data were Nigeria ($4.9M, 31% of world imports), the United States ($3.0M) and India ($1.0M). World imports came to about $16M, 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 500600 structured?
HS code 500600 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (50) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (06) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (00) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 500600?
In Brazil, HS code 500600 is NCM 5006.00.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.