HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 51.12 – Woven fabrics of combed wool or of combed fine animal hair
What HS 51.12 covers
Heading 5112 of the Harmonized System specifically covers 'Woven fabrics of combed wool or of combed fine animal hair.' This classification is crucial for differentiating textiles based on a key fiber processing step: combing. Combing follows carding and involves aligning fibers parallel, removing shorter fibers and impurities, resulting in a longer, stronger, smoother, and more lustrous yarn. Fabrics made from combed wool or fine animal hair, often referred to as 'worsted' fabrics, are typically finer, more compact, and have a distinct, clean surface compared to their carded counterparts (5111). Fine animal hairs include premium fibers like cashmere, mohair, alpaca, and vicuña. The precise definition is vital for customs duties, international trade statistics, and ensuring compliance with textile labeling and quality standards. These fabrics are highly valued for tailored garments, high-quality suits, and luxurious apparel where drape, durability, and a smooth finish are paramount. Historically, worsted fabrics have been associated with precision tailoring and high fashion. As part of Chapter 51, this heading provides a specific classification for these premium wool and fine animal hair fabrics, emphasizing the sophisticated 'combed' processing that elevates their quality and application within the textile industry.
- Covers
- Combed wool worsted suiting fabric
- Combed cashmere fabric for luxury suits
- Mohair worsted fabric for tailored jackets
- Fine alpaca combed fabric for formalwear
- Vicuña combed fabric for high-end coats
- Combed wool gabardine fabric
- Combed merino wool fabric for dress shirts
- Combed wool serge fabric
- Combed fine animal hair fabric for blazers
- Combed wool barathea fabric
- Worsted wool twill fabric
- Combed wool crepes
- Combed cashmere blend fabric for trousers
- Combed camel hair fabric for suits
- Combed wool fabric for uniforms
- Combed fine animal hair fabric for evening wear
- Combed wool sharkskin fabric
- Combed wool tropical weight fabric
- Combed wool fabric for tailored dresses
- Combed fine animal hair fabric for vests
- Combed wool fabric for formal trousers
- Combed wool vicuña blend fabric
- Combed wool glen check fabric
- Combed wool houndstooth fabric
- Combed wool pinstripe fabric
- Examples
A luxury suit manufacturer in Italy imports rolls of premium combed merino wool worsted fabric from Australia to produce high-end men's and women's tailored suits, shipped via long-haul sea freight across the Indian Ocean and through the Suez Canal. Separately, a high-fashion house in France sources exclusive combed cashmere fabric from China for its haute couture collections, often relying on air cargo for speed and security. A uniform supplier in the United States procures durable combed wool serge fabric from the United Kingdom for military and corporate uniforms, typically transported across the Atlantic via container ships. Furthermore, a bespoke tailor in Japan imports fine combed alpaca fabric from Peru for custom-made formalwear, utilizing a combination of sea and air routes to ensure quality and timely delivery.
Subheadings under 51.12 5
Codes often confused with 51.12
Common mistake. The primary misclassification for HS 5112 is confusing combed fabrics with carded fabrics (HS 5111). Combed fabrics are characterized by their smoother, finer, and more lustrous appearance due to the removal of short fibers and impurities, while carded fabrics are bulkier and fuzzier. Traders might also incorrectly classify fabrics made from blends where combed wool or fine animal hair is not the predominant fiber by weight, leading to classification under headings for synthetic blends (Chapter 55) or other fiber blends. Another error could be classifying knitted fabrics (Chapter 60) or non-woven materials (Chapter 59) made from combed fibers under this heading, ignoring the 'woven' requirement. Careful examination of the fabric's weave, fiber length, and surface finish is crucial for accurate classification.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 5112, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5112 in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 46% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 12% 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 $774M 46% of world exports
- 2 China $180M 11% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $112M 6.6% of world exports
World total: $1.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $222M 12% of world imports
- 2 Morocco $186M 10% of world imports
- 3 Italy $127M 7.0% of world imports
World total: $1.8B 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 51.12
What is HS code 5112?
HS code 5112 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Woven fabrics of combed wool or of combed fine animal hair. Heading 5112 of the Harmonized System specifically covers 'Woven fabrics of combed wool or of combed fine animal hair.' This classification is crucial for differentiating textiles based on a key fiber processing step: combing. Combing follows carding and involves aligning fibers parallel, removing shorter fibers and impurities, resulting in a longer, stronger, smoother, and more lustrous yarn. Fabrics made from combed wool or fine animal hair, often referred to as 'worsted' fabrics, are typically finer, more compact, and have a distinct, clean surface compared to their carded counterparts (5111). Fine animal hairs include premium fibers like cashmere, mohair, alpaca, and vicuña. The precise definition is vital for customs duties, international trade statistics, and ensuring compliance with textile labeling and quality standards. These fabrics are highly valued for tailored garments, high-quality suits, and luxurious apparel where drape, durability, and a smooth finish are paramount. Historically, worsted fabrics have been associated with precision tailoring and high fashion. As part of Chapter 51, this heading provides a specific classification for these premium wool and fine animal hair fabrics, emphasizing the sophisticated 'combed' processing that elevates their quality and application within the textile industry.
What products fall under HS code 5112?
Combed wool worsted suiting fabric, Combed cashmere fabric for luxury suits, Mohair worsted fabric for tailored jackets, Fine alpaca combed fabric for formalwear, Vicuña combed fabric for high-end coats, Combed wool gabardine fabric, Combed merino wool fabric for dress shirts, Combed wool serge fabric, Combed fine animal hair fabric for blazers, Combed wool barathea fabric, Worsted wool twill fabric, Combed wool crepes, Combed cashmere blend fabric for trousers, Combed camel hair fabric for suits, Combed wool fabric for uniforms, Combed fine animal hair fabric for evening wear, Combed wool sharkskin fabric, Combed wool tropical weight fabric, Combed wool fabric for tailored dresses, Combed fine animal hair fabric for vests, Combed wool fabric for formal trousers, Combed wool vicuña blend fabric, Combed wool glen check fabric, Combed wool houndstooth fabric, Combed wool pinstripe fabric
What are common misclassifications for HS code 5112?
The primary misclassification for HS 5112 is confusing combed fabrics with carded fabrics (HS 5111). Combed fabrics are characterized by their smoother, finer, and more lustrous appearance due to the removal of short fibers and impurities, while carded fabrics are bulkier and fuzzier. Traders might also incorrectly classify fabrics made from blends where combed wool or fine animal hair is not the predominant fiber by weight, leading to classification under headings for synthetic blends (Chapter 55) or other fiber blends. Another error could be classifying knitted fabrics (Chapter 60) or non-woven materials (Chapter 59) made from combed fibers under this heading, ignoring the 'woven' requirement. Careful examination of the fabric's weave, fiber length, and surface finish is crucial for accurate classification.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5112?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5112 in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($774M, 46% of world exports), China ($180M) and the United Kingdom ($112M). World exports came to about $1.7B, 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 5112?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5112 in UN Comtrade data were China ($222M, 12% of world imports), Morocco ($186M) and Italy ($127M). World imports came to about $1.8B, 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 5112 structured?
HS code 5112 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 51 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (51) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (12) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.