HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 51.11 – Woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair
What HS 51.11 covers
Heading 5111 of the Harmonized System covers 'Woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair.' This classification is critical for distinguishing fabrics based on the processing stage of their constituent fibers. Carding is a mechanical process that disentangles, cleans, and intermixes fibers to produce a continuous web or sliver, resulting in a fabric with a characteristically fuzzy, bulky, and softer feel. Unlike combed fabrics (5112), carded fabrics, often referred to as 'woolen' fabrics, retain shorter fibers and have a less smooth, more textured surface. Examples include flannels, tweeds, and meltons. The 'fine animal hair' component refers to fibers like cashmere, mohair, alpaca, vicuña, and angora rabbit hair, when processed by carding. This heading is essential for accurate customs valuation, duty assessment, and compliance with textile labeling regulations. The classification reflects the specific manufacturing process that impacts the fabric's end-use and market value, typically for warmer, more casual garments, blankets, or upholstery. Being part of Chapter 51, it situates these fabrics within the broader category of wool and animal hair textiles, providing a precise definition based on the critical 'carded' distinction.
- Covers
- Carded wool flannel fabric
- Tweed fabric of carded fine animal hair
- Melton cloth of carded wool
- Carded cashmere fabric for coats
- Brushed wool fabric
- Donegal tweed fabric
- Carded alpaca fabric for blankets
- Shetland wool fabric
- Carded mohair fabric for throws
- Lambswool carded fabric
- Heavy carded wool fabric for outerwear
- Carded vicuña fabric for luxury garments
- Carded angora fabric
- Cheviot wool carded fabric
- Carded wool blend fabric for suits
- Carded wool fabric for overcoats
- Carded fine animal hair fabric for scarves
- Carded wool fabric for upholstery
- Carded wool fabric for traditional kilts
- Carded wool fabric for pea coats
- Carded cashmere blend fabric
- Carded camel hair fabric
- Carded wool fabric for industrial felts
- Carded fine animal hair fabric for decorative purposes
- Carded wool fabric for military uniforms
- Examples
A fashion brand in Italy imports rolls of luxurious carded cashmere fabric from China to produce high-end winter coats and scarves, typically shipped by sea freight through the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, a blanket manufacturer in the United States sources large quantities of carded wool flannel fabric from textile mills in Portugal to create cozy throws and blankets for the domestic market, often transported via transatlantic container ships. Furthermore, a Scottish company specializing in traditional outerwear imports carded Shetland wool tweed fabric from the UK for manufacturing durable jackets and gilets, utilizing internal European road and rail networks. An upholstery firm in Germany procures heavy carded wool fabric from Turkey for durable furniture coverings, often via Mediterranean shipping routes.
Subheadings under 51.11 5
Codes often confused with 51.11
Common mistake. A common misclassification for HS 5111 is confusing carded fabrics with combed fabrics (HS 5112). Carded fabrics are bulkier and fuzzier, while combed fabrics are smoother and more refined. Traders might also mistakenly classify non-woven felts (HS 5903) or knitted fabrics (Chapter 60) made from carded wool or fine animal hair under this heading, overlooking the 'woven' requirement. Another error is classifying fabrics made from blends where wool or fine animal hair is not the predominant fiber by weight, which would fall under other headings depending on the blend composition (e.g., blends with synthetic fibers under Chapter 55). Accurate classification requires careful examination of the fabric's weave structure, fiber composition, and the specific processing (carded vs. combed).
Top exporters and importers of HS code 5111, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5111 in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 45% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Morocco, with 11% 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 $388M 45% of world exports
- 2 China $121M 14% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $87M 10% of world exports
World total: $861M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Morocco $89M 11% of world imports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$68M 8.1% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 China $61M 7.3% of world imports
World total: $836M 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 51.11
What is HS code 5111?
HS code 5111 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair. Heading 5111 of the Harmonized System covers 'Woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair.' This classification is critical for distinguishing fabrics based on the processing stage of their constituent fibers. Carding is a mechanical process that disentangles, cleans, and intermixes fibers to produce a continuous web or sliver, resulting in a fabric with a characteristically fuzzy, bulky, and softer feel. Unlike combed fabrics (5112), carded fabrics, often referred to as 'woolen' fabrics, retain shorter fibers and have a less smooth, more textured surface. Examples include flannels, tweeds, and meltons. The 'fine animal hair' component refers to fibers like cashmere, mohair, alpaca, vicuña, and angora rabbit hair, when processed by carding. This heading is essential for accurate customs valuation, duty assessment, and compliance with textile labeling regulations. The classification reflects the specific manufacturing process that impacts the fabric's end-use and market value, typically for warmer, more casual garments, blankets, or upholstery. Being part of Chapter 51, it situates these fabrics within the broader category of wool and animal hair textiles, providing a precise definition based on the critical 'carded' distinction.
What products fall under HS code 5111?
Carded wool flannel fabric, Tweed fabric of carded fine animal hair, Melton cloth of carded wool, Carded cashmere fabric for coats, Brushed wool fabric, Donegal tweed fabric, Carded alpaca fabric for blankets, Shetland wool fabric, Carded mohair fabric for throws, Lambswool carded fabric, Heavy carded wool fabric for outerwear, Carded vicuña fabric for luxury garments, Carded angora fabric, Cheviot wool carded fabric, Carded wool blend fabric for suits, Carded wool fabric for overcoats, Carded fine animal hair fabric for scarves, Carded wool fabric for upholstery, Carded wool fabric for traditional kilts, Carded wool fabric for pea coats, Carded cashmere blend fabric, Carded camel hair fabric, Carded wool fabric for industrial felts, Carded fine animal hair fabric for decorative purposes, Carded wool fabric for military uniforms
What are common misclassifications for HS code 5111?
A common misclassification for HS 5111 is confusing carded fabrics with combed fabrics (HS 5112). Carded fabrics are bulkier and fuzzier, while combed fabrics are smoother and more refined. Traders might also mistakenly classify non-woven felts (HS 5903) or knitted fabrics (Chapter 60) made from carded wool or fine animal hair under this heading, overlooking the 'woven' requirement. Another error is classifying fabrics made from blends where wool or fine animal hair is not the predominant fiber by weight, which would fall under other headings depending on the blend composition (e.g., blends with synthetic fibers under Chapter 55). Accurate classification requires careful examination of the fabric's weave structure, fiber composition, and the specific processing (carded vs. combed).
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5111?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5111 in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($388M, 45% of world exports), China ($121M) and the United Kingdom ($87M). World exports came to about $861M, 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 5111?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5111 in UN Comtrade data were Morocco ($89M, 11% of world imports), Vietnam (about $68M) and China ($61M). World imports came to about $836M, 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 5111 structured?
HS code 5111 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 51 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (51) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (11) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.