HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 51.08 – Yarn of fine animal hair (carded or combed), not put up for retail sale
What HS 51.08 covers
Heading 5108 covers yarn made from fine animal hair, whether carded or combed, and explicitly states it is not put up for retail sale. This classification is distinct from wool yarn (5106, 5107) and encompasses luxurious fibers such as cashmere, alpaca, mohair, vicuña, camel hair, yak, and angora rabbit hair. The yarn can be derived from either carded or combed fine animal hair, offering a range of qualities from softer, bulkier carded yarns to smoother, more refined combed yarns, all intended for industrial use. The 'not put up for retail sale' criterion means the yarn is supplied in bulk (large cones, bobbins, or hanks) to manufacturers for weaving, knitting, or other textile processes. This heading is of immense importance for the luxury textile industry, where these specialized fibers command high value due to their unique properties, rarity, and exquisite feel. Accurate classification is critical for customs duties, ensuring compliance with CITES regulations for endangered species (e.g., vicuña), and navigating complex trade agreements. This heading completes the yarn classifications within Chapter 51 by providing for non-wool animal hair yarns, highlighting their role in the specialized textile market.
- Covers
- Industrial cashmere yarn (carded)
- Combed alpaca yarn on cones
- Mohair yarn for upholstery (carded)
- Vicuña yarn (industrial)
- Camel hair yarn (combed, bulk)
- Yak hair yarn (carded, industrial)
- Angora rabbit hair yarn (combed, industrial)
- Fine goat hair yarn (e.g., cashmere) for manufacturing
- Fine llama hair yarn (industrial)
- Guanaco yarn (industrial)
- Blend of fine animal hair and silk (fine animal hair predominates)
- Dyed fine animal hair yarn for luxury knitwear
- Undyed fine animal hair yarn for high-end fabrics
- Single-ply fine animal hair yarn (industrial)
- Multi-ply fine animal hair yarn (industrial)
- Fine animal hair yarn for specialty accessories
- Baby alpaca yarn (industrial)
- Blended cashmere-wool yarn (cashmere predominates)
- Fine mohair for scarves
- Fine animal hair yarn for haute couture
- Carded cashmere-silk blend yarn
- Combed yak-merino blend yarn (yak predominates)
- Industrial angora blend yarn
- Fine animal hair yarn for technical textiles.
- Examples
A high-end Italian knitwear brand imports bulk quantities of combed cashmere yarn from Mongolia for the production of luxury sweaters and scarves, often via air cargo due to its high value and the need for speed. A Peruvian textile company exports industrial cones of undyed alpaca yarn to the USA for weaving into premium throws and blankets, typically transported by sea freight. A Turkish manufacturer imports fine mohair yarn from South Africa for use in high-quality upholstery fabrics and specialty apparel, with shipments moving through major shipping lanes. A Japanese company sources fine vicuña yarn from Peru for exclusive bespoke garments, requiring strict adherence to CITES regulations for export and import.
Subheadings under 51.08 2
Codes often confused with 51.08
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for 5108 is confusing it with **5106 or 5107 (Yarn of wool)**. The critical distinction is 'wool' (from sheep) versus 'fine animal hair' (e.g., cashmere from goats, alpaca from alpacas). Traders must correctly identify the animal origin. Another frequent error is classifying it under **5109 (Yarn of wool or of fine animal hair, put up for retail sale)**; 5108 is strictly for industrial use and not packaged for individual consumers. Lastly, sometimes it's mistakenly identified as **5105 (Carded or combed fine animal hair)**, which refers to the unspun fiber, not the twisted yarn.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 5108, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5108 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 62% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Cambodia, with about 25% 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 China $392M 62% of world exports
- 2 Italy $102M 16% of world exports
- 3 Hong Kong $49M 7.8% of world exports
World total: $633M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Cambodia* ~$131M 25% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 Vietnam* ~$70M 13% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 Italy $56M 11% of world imports
World total: $523M 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 51.08
What is HS code 5108?
HS code 5108 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Yarn of fine animal hair (carded or combed), not put up for retail sale. Heading 5108 covers yarn made from fine animal hair, whether carded or combed, and explicitly states it is not put up for retail sale. This classification is distinct from wool yarn (5106, 5107) and encompasses luxurious fibers such as cashmere, alpaca, mohair, vicuña, camel hair, yak, and angora rabbit hair. The yarn can be derived from either carded or combed fine animal hair, offering a range of qualities from softer, bulkier carded yarns to smoother, more refined combed yarns, all intended for industrial use. The 'not put up for retail sale' criterion means the yarn is supplied in bulk (large cones, bobbins, or hanks) to manufacturers for weaving, knitting, or other textile processes. This heading is of immense importance for the luxury textile industry, where these specialized fibers command high value due to their unique properties, rarity, and exquisite feel. Accurate classification is critical for customs duties, ensuring compliance with CITES regulations for endangered species (e.g., vicuña), and navigating complex trade agreements. This heading completes the yarn classifications within Chapter 51 by providing for non-wool animal hair yarns, highlighting their role in the specialized textile market.
What products fall under HS code 5108?
Industrial cashmere yarn (carded), combed alpaca yarn on cones, mohair yarn for upholstery (carded), vicuña yarn (industrial), camel hair yarn (combed, bulk), yak hair yarn (carded, industrial), angora rabbit hair yarn (combed, industrial), fine goat hair yarn (e.g., cashmere) for manufacturing, fine llama hair yarn (industrial), guanaco yarn (industrial), blend of fine animal hair and silk (fine animal hair predominates), dyed fine animal hair yarn for luxury knitwear, undyed fine animal hair yarn for high-end fabrics, single-ply fine animal hair yarn (industrial), multi-ply fine animal hair yarn (industrial), fine animal hair yarn for specialty accessories, baby alpaca yarn (industrial), blended cashmere-wool yarn (cashmere predominates), fine mohair for scarves, fine animal hair yarn for haute couture, carded cashmere-silk blend yarn, combed yak-merino blend yarn (yak predominates), industrial angora blend yarn, fine animal hair yarn for technical textiles.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 5108?
The most common misclassification for 5108 is confusing it with **5106 or 5107 (Yarn of wool)**. The critical distinction is 'wool' (from sheep) versus 'fine animal hair' (e.g., cashmere from goats, alpaca from alpacas). Traders must correctly identify the animal origin. Another frequent error is classifying it under **5109 (Yarn of wool or of fine animal hair, put up for retail sale)**; 5108 is strictly for industrial use and not packaged for individual consumers. Lastly, sometimes it's mistakenly identified as **5105 (Carded or combed fine animal hair)**, which refers to the unspun fiber, not the twisted yarn.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5108?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5108 in UN Comtrade data were China ($392M, 62% of world exports), Italy ($102M) and Hong Kong ($49M). World exports came to about $633M, 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 5108?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5108 in UN Comtrade data were Cambodia (about $131M, 25% of world imports), Vietnam (about $70M) and Italy ($56M). World imports came to about $523M, 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 5108 structured?
HS code 5108 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 51 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (51) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (08) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.