HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 52 – Cotton

What HS 52 covers

Chapter 52 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to "Cotton," encompassing the entire spectrum from raw, unprocessed cotton fibers to finished woven cotton fabrics. This crucial chapter forms the backbone of the global textile industry, covering products essential for spinning, weaving, and ultimately, manufacturing countless consumer goods. The scope begins with cotton in its most natural state, whether ginned, not carded or combed (heading 5201), and extends through various stages of processing, including cotton waste (5202), carded or combed cotton (5203), and cotton yarn (5204-5207), culminating in diverse woven fabrics of cotton (5208-5212). For importers, exporters, and trade compliance professionals, accurate classification within Chapter 52 is paramount due to its significant implications for tariffs, quotas, rules of origin, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. The chapter's detailed structure allows for precise identification of cotton products based on their processing stage, weight, weave type, and whether they are bleached, dyed, or printed. Misclassification can lead to costly delays, penalties, or missed opportunities for tariff reductions. Historically, cotton has been a pivotal commodity driving global trade and industrialization, and its classification remains critical for understanding supply chains from major producing nations like the USA, India, and Brazil to manufacturing hubs in Asia. The chapter differentiates between single and multiple yarns, and various woven fabric types such as plain weave, twill weave, denim, and terry fabrics, each having distinct HS codes. Understanding these distinctions is vital for navigating complex customs regulations and ensuring smooth international trade operations for a commodity that underpins a multi-trillion-dollar industry.

Covers
  • Ginned cotton (not carded or combed)
  • Bleached cotton lint
  • Combed cotton slivers
  • Cotton linters
  • Cotton waste (for recycling)
  • Unbleached single cotton yarn
  • Mercerized multi-ply cotton yarn
  • Dyed cotton sewing thread
  • Denim fabric (over 200 g/m²)
  • Poplin fabric (plain weave, unbleached)
  • Corduroy fabric (cut pile)
  • Sateen fabric (printed)
  • Cotton gauze (medical grade, unbleached)
  • Cotton canvas (heavy weight)
  • Terry toweling fabric (unbleached, loop pile)
  • Cotton duck fabric
  • Chambray fabric
  • Voile fabric
  • Cheesecloth
  • Twill fabrics (dyed)
  • Calico
  • Muslin
  • Cotton batting for quilts
  • Cotton wadding
  • Organic cotton yarn
Examples

A major textile mill in Vietnam imports large quantities of ginned, not carded or combed cotton (HS 5201.00) from the United States or Brazil to feed its spinning operations. This raw material, often shipped in large bales via ocean freight, is then processed into various cotton yarns. An example trade route would be Houston, USA, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Another scenario involves a European fashion brand, based in Italy, sourcing high-quality organic cotton twill fabric (HS 5209.32) from a specialized weaver in Peru. The fabric is then shipped to garment factories in Portugal for cutting and sewing into premium apparel, utilizing preferential tariffs under relevant trade agreements. Furthermore, a large garment manufacturer in Bangladesh frequently imports dyed woven cotton fabrics, such as denim (HS 5209.42) or poplin (HS 5208.32), from suppliers in China or India. These fabrics are crucial for their mass production of jeans and shirts for export to global markets, with typical routes being Shanghai to Chittagong or Mumbai to Dhaka. Finally, a Japanese company might import specialty mercerized multi-ply cotton yarn (HS 5206.25) from Turkey for its sophisticated knitting machinery to produce high-end textiles for home furnishings, with shipments often moving from Istanbul to Yokohama.

Headings in chapter 52 12

52.01Cotton; not carded or combed52.02Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock)52.03Cotton, carded or combed52.04Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale52.05Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale52.06Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale52.07Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), put up for retail sale52.08Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m252.09Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing more than 200g/m252.10Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing not more than 200 g/m252.11Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing more than 200g/m252.12Other woven fabrics of cotton, n.e.c. in chapter 52

147 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 52 →

Codes often confused with 52

Common mistake. Common misclassifications in Chapter 52 often arise from confusing the processing stage or the final form of the cotton product. A frequent mistake is classifying cotton waste (HS 5202) as raw cotton not carded or combed (HS 5201). While both are unprocessed, 5202 specifically covers waste from spinning or weaving, which typically has a different value and sometimes different duty rates or import restrictions. Another common error is misclassifying cotton yarn (HS 5204-5207) with blended yarns or synthetic yarns. If a yarn contains more than 10% by weight of synthetic staple fibers, it would typically fall under Chapter 55 (Man-made staple fibers), not Chapter 52. Similarly, woven cotton fabrics (HS 5208-5212) are often confused with knitted fabrics (Chapter 60) or even made-up textile articles (Chapters 61, 62, 63) like finished garments or bedding. The distinction is crucial: Chapter 52 covers fabric in the piece, not cut or sewn into finished goods, and the manufacturing method (woven vs. knitted) dictates the chapter.

52.02Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock)52.01Cotton; not carded or combed52.04Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale52.07Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), put up for retail sale52.08Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m252.12Other woven fabrics of cotton, n.e.c. in chapter 52

Top exporters and importers of HS code 52, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 52 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Bangladesh, with about 16% 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. 1 China $10.9B
  2. 2 India $6.1B
  3. 3 United States $5.9B

World total: $47.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Bangladesh* ~$7.2B
  2. 2 China $5.6B
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$4.7B

World total: $44.4B 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 52

What is HS code 52?

HS code 52 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Cotton. Chapter 52 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to "Cotton," encompassing the entire spectrum from raw, unprocessed cotton fibers to finished woven cotton fabrics. This crucial chapter forms the backbone of the global textile industry, covering products essential for spinning, weaving, and ultimately, manufacturing countless consumer goods. The scope begins with cotton in its most natural state, whether ginned, not carded or combed (heading 5201), and extends through various stages of processing, including cotton waste (5202), carded or combed cotton (5203), and cotton yarn (5204-5207), culminating in diverse woven fabrics of cotton (5208-5212). For importers, exporters, and trade compliance professionals, accurate classification within Chapter 52 is paramount due to its significant implications for tariffs, quotas, rules of origin, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. The chapter's detailed structure allows for precise identification of cotton products based on their processing stage, weight, weave type, and whether they are bleached, dyed, or printed. Misclassification can lead to costly delays, penalties, or missed opportunities for tariff reductions. Historically, cotton has been a pivotal commodity driving global trade and industrialization, and its classification remains critical for understanding supply chains from major producing nations like the USA, India, and Brazil to manufacturing hubs in Asia. The chapter differentiates between single and multiple yarns, and various woven fabric types such as plain weave, twill weave, denim, and terry fabrics, each having distinct HS codes. Understanding these distinctions is vital for navigating complex customs regulations and ensuring smooth international trade operations for a commodity that underpins a multi-trillion-dollar industry.

What products fall under HS code 52?

Ginned cotton (not carded or combed), Bleached cotton lint, Combed cotton slivers, Cotton linters, Cotton waste (for recycling), Unbleached single cotton yarn, Mercerized multi-ply cotton yarn, Dyed cotton sewing thread, Denim fabric (over 200 g/m²), Poplin fabric (plain weave, unbleached), Corduroy fabric (cut pile), Sateen fabric (printed), Cotton gauze (medical grade, unbleached), Cotton canvas (heavy weight), Terry toweling fabric (unbleached, loop pile), Cotton duck fabric, Chambray fabric, Voile fabric, Cheesecloth, Twill fabrics (dyed), Calico, Muslin, Cotton batting for quilts, Cotton wadding, Organic cotton yarn

What are common misclassifications for HS code 52?

Common misclassifications in Chapter 52 often arise from confusing the processing stage or the final form of the cotton product. A frequent mistake is classifying cotton waste (HS 5202) as raw cotton not carded or combed (HS 5201). While both are unprocessed, 5202 specifically covers waste from spinning or weaving, which typically has a different value and sometimes different duty rates or import restrictions. Another common error is misclassifying cotton yarn (HS 5204-5207) with blended yarns or synthetic yarns. If a yarn contains more than 10% by weight of synthetic staple fibers, it would typically fall under Chapter 55 (Man-made staple fibers), not Chapter 52. Similarly, woven cotton fabrics (HS 5208-5212) are often confused with knitted fabrics (Chapter 60) or even made-up textile articles (Chapters 61, 62, 63) like finished garments or bedding. The distinction is crucial: Chapter 52 covers fabric in the piece, not cut or sewn into finished goods, and the manufacturing method (woven vs. knitted) dictates the chapter.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 52?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 52 in UN Comtrade data were China ($10.9B, 23% of world exports), India ($6.1B) and the United States ($5.9B). World exports came to about $47.5B, 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 52?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 52 in UN Comtrade data were Bangladesh (about $7.2B, 16% of world imports), China ($5.6B) and Vietnam (about $4.7B). World imports came to about $44.4B, 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 52 structured?

HS code 52 is a 2-digit chapter code in the Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization. It represents a broad category of goods and contains multiple 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings for more specific classifications.