HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 55.06 – Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning
What HS 55.06 covers
Heading 5506 covers "Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning." This classification is critical for the textile industry as it encompasses synthetic staple fibers (such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and polypropylene) that have undergone preparatory processes like carding, combing, or drawing to align, clean, and parallelize the fibers, making them ready for spinning into yarn. Unlike the raw, unprocessed fibers of HS 5503, products under 5506 are advanced intermediate materials, often in the form of slivers, rovings, or tops, which are directly fed into spinning machines. The 'processed for spinning' condition is the defining characteristic, signifying a higher degree of manufacturing and value addition. This heading is vital for yarn manufacturers and textile producers, as these processed fibers offer improved consistency, strength, and spinnability. Accurate classification is essential for proper duty assessment, compliance with origin rules, and ensuring seamless integration into the textile supply chain. Within Section XI, this heading represents a crucial stage in transforming raw synthetic fibers into textile yarns, impacting the quality and characteristics of a wide range of finished textile products from apparel to industrial fabrics. Its trade significance lies in supplying specialized and prepared fiber components to global spinning mills.
- Covers
- Carded polyester staple fibers
- Combed nylon staple fibers
- Acrylic slivers
- Polypropylene rovings
- Prepared modacrylic staple fibers
- Polyester tops
- Nylon drawn slivers
- Acrylic carded webs
- Polypropylene combed laps
- Spun-ready synthetic fibers
- Blended synthetic fiber slivers
- High-tenacity polyester slivers
- Anti-pilling acrylic rovings
- Fine-denier nylon slivers
- Micro-polyester tops
- Flame-retardant acrylic slivers
- Hollow polyester rovings
- Bicomponent fiber slivers (processed)
- Dyed polyester slivers
- Dyed nylon rovings
- Dyed acrylic tops
- Specialty synthetic slivers for technical textiles
- Synthetic fibers for worsted spinning
- Synthetic fibers for woolen spinning
- Synthetic fibers for semi-worsted spinning
- Examples
A yarn spinning mill in Turkey imports large quantities of carded polyester staple fibers from China, where they are further processed into various polyester yarns for apparel and home textiles, leveraging efficient sea routes. Similarly, a Portuguese textile manufacturer sources combed acrylic slivers from Germany for sweater production, benefiting from streamlined intra-EU logistics and quality assurance. An automotive textile producer in Mexico imports prepared nylon staple fibers in sliver form from the United States for weaving into durable upholstery fabrics, utilizing USMCA trade benefits. Indian textile companies frequently import various processed synthetic staple fibers from Southeast Asian nations to meet the demand for high-quality yarns in their expanding domestic and export markets. Lastly, a Brazilian company imports specialty polypropylene rovings from Italy for the production of durable outdoor fabrics, requiring precise classification for these advanced materials.
Subheadings under 55.06 5
Codes often confused with 55.06
Common mistake. A very common misclassification error for HS 5506 is confusing it with unprocessed synthetic staple fibers (HS 5503). The key differentiator is the 'carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning' aspect. Fibers under 5503 are raw and unaligned, while 5506 refers to fibers that have undergone significant mechanical preparation. Another mistake is classifying these processed synthetic fibers as artificial staple fibers (HS 5504), overlooking the fundamental synthetic (polymer) versus artificial (regenerated cellulose) distinction. Traders might also mistakenly classify finished yarns (e.g., Chapter 55 or 54) as processed fibers, failing to recognize that 5506 is still a fiber form, not yet a spun yarn.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 5506, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5506 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Senegal, with 17% 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 China $46M 22% of world exports
- 2 Senegal $40M 19% of world exports
- 3 Peru* ~$22M 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $209M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Senegal $47M 17% of world imports
- 2 Italy $24M 9.0% of world imports
- 3 Türkiye $17M 6.2% of world imports
World total: $272M 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 55.06
What is HS code 5506?
HS code 5506 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning. Heading 5506 covers "Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning." This classification is critical for the textile industry as it encompasses synthetic staple fibers (such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and polypropylene) that have undergone preparatory processes like carding, combing, or drawing to align, clean, and parallelize the fibers, making them ready for spinning into yarn. Unlike the raw, unprocessed fibers of HS 5503, products under 5506 are advanced intermediate materials, often in the form of slivers, rovings, or tops, which are directly fed into spinning machines. The 'processed for spinning' condition is the defining characteristic, signifying a higher degree of manufacturing and value addition. This heading is vital for yarn manufacturers and textile producers, as these processed fibers offer improved consistency, strength, and spinnability. Accurate classification is essential for proper duty assessment, compliance with origin rules, and ensuring seamless integration into the textile supply chain. Within Section XI, this heading represents a crucial stage in transforming raw synthetic fibers into textile yarns, impacting the quality and characteristics of a wide range of finished textile products from apparel to industrial fabrics. Its trade significance lies in supplying specialized and prepared fiber components to global spinning mills.
What products fall under HS code 5506?
Carded polyester staple fibers, combed nylon staple fibers, acrylic slivers, polypropylene rovings, prepared modacrylic staple fibers, polyester tops, nylon drawn slivers, acrylic carded webs, polypropylene combed laps, spun-ready synthetic fibers, blended synthetic fiber slivers, high-tenacity polyester slivers, anti-pilling acrylic rovings, fine-denier nylon slivers, micro-polyester tops, flame-retardant acrylic slivers, hollow polyester rovings, bicomponent fiber slivers (processed), dyed polyester slivers, dyed nylon rovings, dyed acrylic tops, specialty synthetic slivers for technical textiles, synthetic fibers for worsted spinning, synthetic fibers for woolen spinning, synthetic fibers for semi-worsted spinning
What are common misclassifications for HS code 5506?
A very common misclassification error for HS 5506 is confusing it with unprocessed synthetic staple fibers (HS 5503). The key differentiator is the 'carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning' aspect. Fibers under 5503 are raw and unaligned, while 5506 refers to fibers that have undergone significant mechanical preparation. Another mistake is classifying these processed synthetic fibers as artificial staple fibers (HS 5504), overlooking the fundamental synthetic (polymer) versus artificial (regenerated cellulose) distinction. Traders might also mistakenly classify finished yarns (e.g., Chapter 55 or 54) as processed fibers, failing to recognize that 5506 is still a fiber form, not yet a spun yarn.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5506?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5506 in UN Comtrade data were China ($46M, 22% of world exports), Senegal ($40M) and Peru (about $22M). World exports came to about $209M, 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 5506?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5506 in UN Comtrade data were Senegal ($47M, 17% of world imports), Italy ($24M) and Türkiye ($17M). World imports came to about $272M, 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 5506 structured?
HS code 5506 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 55 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (55) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (06) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.