HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 5203.00 – Cotton; carded or combed
HS code 5203.00 is the 6-digit subheading for cotton, carded or combed. It is used for carded cotton sliver, combed cotton sliver, carded cotton roving, combed cotton roving and cotton lap.
What HS 5203.00 covers
This HS code represents cotton that has undergone initial processing steps like carding or combing, transforming raw cotton fibers into a more uniform, clean, and aligned state. Carding disentangles and cleans the fibers, while combing further refines them, removing shorter fibers and impurities, resulting in a smoother, stronger yarn. This semi-processed cotton is a crucial intermediate product in the textile supply chain, serving as the primary input for spinning mills worldwide. Major importers are countries with large textile manufacturing industries, such as China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Turkey, which process it into yarns and fabrics. Exporters often include cotton-producing nations with some processing capacity, like the USA, Brazil, Australia, and various African countries. Key things to know include the distinction between carded (less refined, coarser yarns) and combed (more refined, finer yarns) cotton, which impacts the quality and end-use of the final textile products. The global trade in carded or combed cotton is influenced by raw cotton prices, demand for textiles, and technological advancements in spinning.
- Covers
- Carded cotton sliver
- Combed cotton sliver
- Carded cotton roving
- Combed cotton roving
- Cotton lap
- Bleached carded cotton
- Organic combed cotton
- Examples
- Uster Technologies (testing equipment for cotton quality)
- Cotton Incorporated (promotes cotton use)
- Cargill (cotton trading)
- Olam International (cotton trading)
Codes often confused with 5203.00
Common mistake. This code can be confused with raw cotton (HS 520100) if not sufficiently processed, or with cotton waste (HS 520200) if the quality is poor. It's distinct from cotton yarn (HS 5205) which is a further processed product.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 520300, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 520300 in UN Comtrade data was India, with 40% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 48% 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 India $75M 40% of world exports
- 2 Indonesia $24M 13% of world exports
- 3 Tanzania $10M 5.5% of world exports
World total: $187M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Vietnam* ~$95M 48% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 France $12M 5.9% of world imports
- 3 Poland $11M 5.4% of world imports
World total: $197M 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 code for 5203.00
Brazil does not split HS 5203.00: its NCM code is 5203.00.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 52.03 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 5203.00
What is HS code 520300?
HS code 520300 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Cotton; carded or combed. This HS code represents cotton that has undergone initial processing steps like carding or combing, transforming raw cotton fibers into a more uniform, clean, and aligned state. Carding disentangles and cleans the fibers, while combing further refines them, removing shorter fibers and impurities, resulting in a smoother, stronger yarn. This semi-processed cotton is a crucial intermediate product in the textile supply chain, serving as the primary input for spinning mills worldwide. Major importers are countries with large textile manufacturing industries, such as China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Turkey, which process it into yarns and fabrics. Exporters often include cotton-producing nations with some processing capacity, like the USA, Brazil, Australia, and various African countries. Key things to know include the distinction between carded (less refined, coarser yarns) and combed (more refined, finer yarns) cotton, which impacts the quality and end-use of the final textile products. The global trade in carded or combed cotton is influenced by raw cotton prices, demand for textiles, and technological advancements in spinning.
What products fall under HS code 520300?
Carded cotton sliver, Combed cotton sliver, Carded cotton roving, Combed cotton roving, Cotton lap, Bleached carded cotton, Organic combed cotton
What are common misclassifications for HS code 520300?
This code can be confused with raw cotton (HS 520100) if not sufficiently processed, or with cotton waste (HS 520200) if the quality is poor. It's distinct from cotton yarn (HS 5205) which is a further processed product.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 520300?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 520300 in UN Comtrade data were India ($75M, 40% of world exports), Indonesia ($24M) and Tanzania ($10M). World exports came to about $187M, 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 520300?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 520300 in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $95M, 48% of world imports), France ($12M) and Poland ($11M). World imports came to about $197M, 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 520300 structured?
HS code 520300 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (52) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (03) 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 520300?
In Brazil, HS code 520300 is NCM 5203.00.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.