HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 5201.00 – Cotton; not carded or combed
HS code 5201.00 is the 6-digit subheading for cotton, not carded or combed. It is used for raw ginned cotton, baled upland cotton, pima cotton lint, organic raw cotton and short staple cotton.
What HS 5201.00 covers
This HS code represents raw, unprocessed cotton that has been ginned but not yet carded or combed. It is the foundational raw material for the global textile industry, traded in vast quantities to spinning mills worldwide. Major importers are countries with large-scale textile manufacturing sectors, such as China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, which rely on consistent and cost-effective bulk supplies to feed their yarn production. Exporters are primarily the world's leading cotton-producing nations, including the United States, Brazil, and India. Key factors influencing international trade include fiber length (staple), strength, micronaire (fineness), and trash content, which dictate the cotton's quality and suitability for various yarn types and end products. Global prices are highly sensitive to harvest yields and geopolitical factors.
- Covers
- Raw ginned cotton
- Baled upland cotton
- Pima cotton lint
- Organic raw cotton
- Short staple cotton
- Long staple cotton
- Extra-long staple cotton
- Examples
- US Upland cotton bales
- Indian Shankar-6 cotton
- Brazilian Acala cotton
- Australian cotton lint
- West African cotton
Codes often confused with 5201.00
Common mistake. Distinct from 5202 (cotton waste) and 5203 (carded or combed cotton). The key is its unprocessed state after ginning, before any further fiber alignment or cleaning.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 520100, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 520100 in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 17% of world imports. Bangladesh did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Brazil $4.9B 32% of world exports
- 2 United States $4.8B 32% of world exports
- 3 Australia $2.2B 15% of world exports
World total: $15.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Vietnam* ~$2.5B 17% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 Bangladesh* ~$2.1B 14% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 China $1.9B 13% of world imports
Bangladesh did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
World total: $14.5B 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.
Brazil NCM codes for 5201.00 3
Brazil splits HS 5201.00 into 3 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 5201.00.10 Cotton not ginned, not carded or combedNão debulhado
- 5201.00.20 Cotton merely ginned, not carded or combedSimplesmente debulhado
- 5201.00.90 Other cotton, not carded or combedOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 52.01 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 5201.00
What is HS code 520100?
HS code 520100 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Cotton; not carded or combed. This HS code represents raw, unprocessed cotton that has been ginned but not yet carded or combed. It is the foundational raw material for the global textile industry, traded in vast quantities to spinning mills worldwide. Major importers are countries with large-scale textile manufacturing sectors, such as China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, which rely on consistent and cost-effective bulk supplies to feed their yarn production. Exporters are primarily the world's leading cotton-producing nations, including the United States, Brazil, and India. Key factors influencing international trade include fiber length (staple), strength, micronaire (fineness), and trash content, which dictate the cotton's quality and suitability for various yarn types and end products. Global prices are highly sensitive to harvest yields and geopolitical factors.
What products fall under HS code 520100?
Raw ginned cotton, baled upland cotton, Pima cotton lint, organic raw cotton, short staple cotton, long staple cotton, extra-long staple cotton
What are common misclassifications for HS code 520100?
Distinct from 5202 (cotton waste) and 5203 (carded or combed cotton). The key is its unprocessed state after ginning, before any further fiber alignment or cleaning.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 520100?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 520100 in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($4.9B, 32% of world exports), the United States ($4.8B) and Australia ($2.2B). World exports came to about $15.2B, 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 520100?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 520100 in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $2.5B, 17% of world imports), Bangladesh (about $2.1B) and China ($1.9B). World imports came to about $14.5B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Bangladesh did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
How is HS code 520100 structured?
HS code 520100 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (52) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (01) 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 520100?
Brazil splits HS code 520100 into 3 NCM codes: 5201.00.10 (Cotton not ginned, not carded or combed), 5201.00.20 (Cotton merely ginned, not carded or combed), 5201.00.90 (Other cotton, not carded or combed). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.