HS code · 4-digit heading

HS Code 54.02 – Synthetic filament yarn (other than sewing thread), not put up for retail sale, including synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex

What HS 54.02 covers

Heading 5402 covers 'Synthetic filament yarn (other than sewing thread), not put up for retail sale, including synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex.' This classification is fundamental for understanding the raw material inputs of the global textile industry, specifically focusing on industrial-grade yarns made from synthetic polymers such as polyester, nylon (polyamide), acrylic, and polypropylene. The key exclusions are sewing thread (5401) and yarns packaged for retail sale, emphasizing its role as an intermediate product for further manufacturing. This heading also includes very fine synthetic monofilaments, specifically those with a linear density less than 67 decitex, which are often used in specialized textile applications. The scope is broad for synthetic filament yarns but strictly defined by its 'non-sewing thread' and 'not for retail' conditions. This precise classification is vital for customs valuation, origin determination, and compliance with various trade regulations, as these yarns represent a significant portion of global textile trade. As a core component of Section XI, 'Textiles and Textile Articles,' Heading 5402 underscores the massive scale of man-made fiber production and its pervasive use in weaving, knitting, and other textile processes, driving innovation in performance fabrics and sustainable textile solutions.

Covers
  • Polyester DTY (drawn textured yarn) in bulk
  • Nylon FDY (fully drawn yarn) on industrial bobbins
  • Polypropylene multifilament yarn for carpet backing
  • Acrylic filament yarn for upholstery
  • Polyamide 6 filament yarn for hosiery
  • High-tenacity polyester filament yarn for industrial fabrics
  • Spandex/elastane filament yarn for activewear
  • Textured polyester yarn for apparel manufacturing
  • Undrawn polyester filament yarn (POY)
  • Partially oriented polyester yarn (POY) for texturing
  • Flat polyester filament yarn for weaving
  • Microfilament polyester yarn for sportswear
  • Nylon 66 filament yarn for technical textiles
  • Recycled polyester filament yarn
  • Dope-dyed polyester filament yarn
  • Bicomponent synthetic filament yarn
  • Synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex for fishing lines
  • Synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex for medical textiles
  • Synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex for filtration fabrics
  • Polyester yarn for nonwovens
  • Nylon yarn for ropes and nets
  • Polypropylene yarn for geotextiles.
Examples

A large textile mill in Vietnam imports thousands of tons of polyester DTY (drawn textured yarn) from China, used as the primary raw material for weaving into fabrics for sportswear and fashion apparel, transported by ocean freight. A Turkish hosiery manufacturer sources high-quality nylon 6 filament yarn from a European supplier (e.g., Italy) for producing seamless stockings and tights, often shipped by truck or rail within Europe to ensure timely delivery. A US company imports high-tenacity polypropylene multifilament yarn from India for manufacturing industrial webbing, straps, and geotextiles, utilizing bulk ocean container shipments. A Taiwanese producer exports specialized microfilament polyester yarn to Bangladesh for high-performance sportswear and activewear, facilitating efficient shipping routes across Asia.

Subheadings under 54.02 22

5402.11Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides, textured or not; of aramids, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.19Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of high tenacity nylon or other polyamides, textured or not; other than aramids, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.20Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of high tenacity yarn of polyesters, whether or not textured, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.31Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, of nylon or other polyamides, measuring per single yarn not more than 50 decitex, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.32Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, of nylon or other polyamides, measuring per single yarn more than 50 decitex, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.33Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, of polyesters, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.34Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, of polypropylene, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.39Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, other than of nylon or other polymides, polyesters, or polypropylene, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.44Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), other than high tenacity or textured yarn, elastomeric, single, untwisted or twisted 50 turns or less per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.45Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of nylon or other polymides (not high tenacity or textured), single, untwisted or twisted 50 turns or less per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.46Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of polyesters (not high tenacity or textured), partially oriented, single, untwisted or twisted 50 turns or less per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.47Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), polyesters (not high tenacity or textured), not partially oriented, single, untwisted or twisted 50 turns or less per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.48Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of polypropylene (not high tenacity or textured), single, untwisted or twisted 50 turns or less per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.49Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), other than high tenacity or textured yarn, single, untwisted or twisted 50 turns or less per metre, n.e.c. in heading no. 5402, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.51Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of nylon or other polymides (not high tenacity or textured), single, twisted more than 50 turns per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.52Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of polyesters (not high tenacity or textured), single, twisted more than 50 turns per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.53Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of polypropylene (not high tenacity or textured), single, twisted more than 50 turns per metre, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.59Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), other than high tenacity or textured yarn, single, twisted more than 50 turns per metre, n.e.c. in heading no. 5402, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.61Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of nylon or other polymides (not high tenacity or textured), multiple (folded) or cabled, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.62Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of polyesters (not high tenacity or textured), multiple (folded) or cabled, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.63Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), of polypropylene, other than high tenacity or textured yarn, multiple (folded) or cabled, not for retail sale, not sewing thread5402.69Yarn, synthetic; filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), other than high tenacity or textured yarn, multiple (folded) or cabled, n.e.c. in heading no. 5402, not for retail sale, not sewing thread

37 Brazil NCM codes in heading 54.02 →

Codes often confused with 54.02

Common mistake. A common misclassification for 5402 is confusing it with sewing thread (5401); the 'other than sewing thread' clause is critical. Another frequent error is mistaking synthetic filament yarn for artificial filament yarn (5403). Synthetic yarns are derived from petrochemicals (e.g., polyester, nylon), while artificial yarns are regenerated cellulose or protein-based (e.g., rayon, modal). Traders must also differentiate this heading from synthetic filament tow (5501) or synthetic staple fibers (5503) if the product is not in continuous filament yarn form. Finally, monofilaments with a decitex of 67 or more would fall under 5404, so careful measurement of linear density is essential.

54.01Sewing thread of man-made filaments, whether or not put up for retail sale54.03Artificial filament yarn (other than sewing thread), not put up for retail sale, including artificial monofilament of less than 67 decitex55.01Synthetic filament tow55.03Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning54.04Synthetic monofilament of 67 decitex or more, of which no cross-sectional dimension exceeds 1mm; strip and the like (e.g. artificial straw) of synthetic textile materials of an apparent width not exceeding 5mm

Top exporters and importers of HS code 5402, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5402 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 47% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 6.3% 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 $7.7B
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$872M
  3. 3 Türkiye $716M

World total: $16.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Vietnam* ~$1.1B
  2. 2 Türkiye $965M
  3. 3 Brazil $937M

World total: $17.4B 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 54.02

What is HS code 5402?

HS code 5402 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Synthetic filament yarn (other than sewing thread), not put up for retail sale, including synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex. Heading 5402 covers 'Synthetic filament yarn (other than sewing thread), not put up for retail sale, including synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex.' This classification is fundamental for understanding the raw material inputs of the global textile industry, specifically focusing on industrial-grade yarns made from synthetic polymers such as polyester, nylon (polyamide), acrylic, and polypropylene. The key exclusions are sewing thread (5401) and yarns packaged for retail sale, emphasizing its role as an intermediate product for further manufacturing. This heading also includes very fine synthetic monofilaments, specifically those with a linear density less than 67 decitex, which are often used in specialized textile applications. The scope is broad for synthetic filament yarns but strictly defined by its 'non-sewing thread' and 'not for retail' conditions. This precise classification is vital for customs valuation, origin determination, and compliance with various trade regulations, as these yarns represent a significant portion of global textile trade. As a core component of Section XI, 'Textiles and Textile Articles,' Heading 5402 underscores the massive scale of man-made fiber production and its pervasive use in weaving, knitting, and other textile processes, driving innovation in performance fabrics and sustainable textile solutions.

What products fall under HS code 5402?

Polyester DTY (drawn textured yarn) in bulk, nylon FDY (fully drawn yarn) on industrial bobbins, polypropylene multifilament yarn for carpet backing, acrylic filament yarn for upholstery, polyamide 6 filament yarn for hosiery, high-tenacity polyester filament yarn for industrial fabrics, spandex/elastane filament yarn for activewear, textured polyester yarn for apparel manufacturing, undrawn polyester filament yarn (POY), partially oriented polyester yarn (POY) for texturing, flat polyester filament yarn for weaving, microfilament polyester yarn for sportswear, nylon 66 filament yarn for technical textiles, recycled polyester filament yarn, dope-dyed polyester filament yarn, bicomponent synthetic filament yarn, synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex for fishing lines, synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex for medical textiles, synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex for filtration fabrics, polyester yarn for nonwovens, nylon yarn for ropes and nets, polypropylene yarn for geotextiles.

What are common misclassifications for HS code 5402?

A common misclassification for 5402 is confusing it with sewing thread (5401); the 'other than sewing thread' clause is critical. Another frequent error is mistaking synthetic filament yarn for artificial filament yarn (5403). Synthetic yarns are derived from petrochemicals (e.g., polyester, nylon), while artificial yarns are regenerated cellulose or protein-based (e.g., rayon, modal). Traders must also differentiate this heading from synthetic filament tow (5501) or synthetic staple fibers (5503) if the product is not in continuous filament yarn form. Finally, monofilaments with a decitex of 67 or more would fall under 5404, so careful measurement of linear density is essential.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5402?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5402 in UN Comtrade data were China ($7.7B, 47% of world exports), Vietnam (about $872M) and Türkiye ($716M). World exports came to about $16.5B, 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 5402?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5402 in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $1.1B, 6.3% of world imports), Türkiye ($965M) and Brazil ($937M). World imports came to about $17.4B, 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 5402 structured?

HS code 5402 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 54 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (54) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (02) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.