HS code · 4-digit heading

HS Code 55.09 – Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail sale

What HS 55.09 covers

HS Code 5509 specifically covers 'Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail sale.' This is a cornerstone classification for the global textile industry, encompassing bulk yarns made from short, spun synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and polypropylene. The key differentiators are: it must be 'yarn' (not fibre or thread), made from 'synthetic staple fibres' (not artificial or natural), 'not sewing thread' (distinguishing it from 5508), and 'not put up for retail sale' (implying large, industrial quantities for further manufacturing, differentiating it from 5511). The scope is vast within the synthetic staple fibre domain, including various counts, twists, and finishes of yarn used in weaving, knitting, and non-woven applications. It excludes continuous filament yarns (covered in Chapter 54) and yarns of artificial staple fibres (covered in 5510). This heading is critical for manufacturers of apparel, home textiles, industrial fabrics, and technical textiles, as these yarns form the fundamental building blocks of countless products. Accurate classification under HS 5509 is paramount for trade compliance, directly influencing import duties, quotas, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. Misclassification can lead to significant delays, penalties, and increased costs. Historically, the rise of synthetic fibres revolutionized the textile industry, offering durability, easy care, and versatility. Yarns under this heading are central to modern mass production. As part of Chapter 55, this heading precisely defines a major category of man-made staple fibre yarns, enabling streamlined international trade in textile intermediates.

Covers

Bulk polyester staple fibre yarn (unbleached), Acrylic staple fibre yarn (dyed), Nylon staple fibre yarn (for carpets), Polypropylene staple fibre yarn (industrial grade), Modacrylic staple fibre yarn (flame retardant), Spun polyester yarn for weaving, Spun acrylic yarn for knitting, High-tenacity nylon staple fibre yarn, Blended synthetic staple fibre yarn (e.g., polyester-cotton blend, with predominant synthetic), Recycled polyester staple fibre yarn, Hollow synthetic staple fibre yarn, Bi-component synthetic staple fibre yarn, Texturized polyester staple fibre yarn, Spun synthetic yarn for upholstery, Industrial synthetic staple yarn for geotextiles, Synthetic staple yarn for automotive fabrics, Yarn for non-woven fabric production (synthetic staple), Polyester-viscose blend yarn (predominant synthetic), Acrylic-wool blend yarn (predominant synthetic), Nylon staple yarn for fishing nets, Polyester staple yarn for ropes, Modacrylic yarn for protective clothing, Spun synthetic yarn for blankets, High-performance synthetic staple yarn, Polyester staple yarn for technical textiles.

Examples

An Indian textile mill exports massive quantities of bulk polyester staple fibre yarn to a weaving factory in Portugal, where it is used to produce durable shirting fabrics for the European fashion market. Concurrently, a Chinese yarn producer ships industrial-grade acrylic staple fibre yarn to Turkey, supplying manufacturers who specialize in warm blankets and knitwear for global distribution. Furthermore, a US company imports high-tenacity nylon staple fibre yarn from South Korea, which is then utilized in the production of robust automotive upholstery and specialized industrial textiles, benefiting from South Korea's advanced synthetic yarn technologies.

Subheadings under 55.09 18

5509.11Yarn; (not sewing thread), single, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of nylon or other polyamides, not put up for retail sale5509.12Yarn; (not sewing thread), multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of nylon or other polyamides, not put up for retail sale5509.21Yarn; (not sewing thread), single, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of polyester, not put up for retail sale5509.22Yarn; (not sewing thread), multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of polyester, not put up for retail sale5509.31Yarn; (not sewing thread), single, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of acrylic or modacrylic, not put up for retail sale5509.32Yarn; (not sewing thread), multiple (folded) or cabled, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of acrylic or modacrylic, not put up for retail sale5509.41Yarn; (not sewing thread), single, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres, n.e.c. in heading no. 5509, not put up for retail sale5509.42Yarn; (not sewing thread), multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres, n.e.c. in heading no. 5509, not put up for retail sale5509.51Yarn; (not sewing thread), of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with artificial staple fibres, not put up for retail sale5509.52Yarn; (not sewing thread), of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with wool or fine animal hair, not put up for retail sale5509.53Yarn; (not sewing thread), of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, not put up for retail sale5509.59Yarn; (not sewing thread), of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with fibres n.e.c. in item no. 5509.5, not put up for retail sale5509.61Yarn; (not sewing thread), of acrylic or modacrylic staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with wool or fine animal hair, not put up for retail sale5509.62Yarn; (not sewing thread), of acrylic or modacrylic staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, not put up for retail sale5509.69Yarn; (not sewing thread), of acrylic or modacrylic staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with fibres n.e.c. in item no. 5509.6, not put up for retail sale5509.91Yarn; (not sewing thread), of synthetic staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with wool or fine animal hair, n.e.c. in heading no. 5509, not put up for retail sale5509.92Yarn; (not sewing thread), of synthetic staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, n.e.c. in heading no. 5509, not put up for retail sale5509.99Yarn; (not sewing thread), of synthetic staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with fibres (other than wool, fine animal hair or cotton), n.e.c. in heading no. 5509, not put up for retail sale

19 Brazil NCM codes in heading 55.09 →

Codes often confused with 55.09

Common mistake. Key misclassification errors for HS 5509 often involve confusing it with yarns of *artificial* staple fibres (HS 5510), where the distinction between 'synthetic' (e.g., polyester) and 'artificial' (e.g., viscose) is critical. Another common mistake is classifying yarns 'put up for retail sale' (HS 5511) under 5509, overlooking the crucial 'not put up for retail sale' requirement. Furthermore, yarns of synthetic *filaments* (HS 5407) are sometimes incorrectly grouped here, failing to differentiate between 'staple' (spun from short fibres) and 'filament' (continuous fibres) yarns. Precise identification of fibre type, form, and packaging is essential.

55.10Yarn (other than sewing thread) of artificial staple fibres, not put up for retail sale55.11Yarn (not sewing thread), of man-made staple fibres, put up for retail sale54.07Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, including woven fabrics obtained from materials of heading no. 5404

Top exporters and importers of HS code 5509, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5509 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 41% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Bangladesh, with about 10% of world imports. Türkiye reports $372M of its chapter 55 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $2.0B
  2. 2 India $426M
  3. 3 United States $389M

Türkiye reports $372M of its chapter 55 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.

World total: $4.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Bangladesh* ~$472M
  2. 2 Honduras* ~$329M
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$245M

World total: $4.6B 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 55.09

What is HS code 5509?

HS code 5509 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail sale. HS Code 5509 specifically covers 'Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail sale.' This is a cornerstone classification for the global textile industry, encompassing bulk yarns made from short, spun synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and polypropylene. The key differentiators are: it must be 'yarn' (not fibre or thread), made from 'synthetic staple fibres' (not artificial or natural), 'not sewing thread' (distinguishing it from 5508), and 'not put up for retail sale' (implying large, industrial quantities for further manufacturing, differentiating it from 5511). The scope is vast within the synthetic staple fibre domain, including various counts, twists, and finishes of yarn used in weaving, knitting, and non-woven applications. It excludes continuous filament yarns (covered in Chapter 54) and yarns of artificial staple fibres (covered in 5510). This heading is critical for manufacturers of apparel, home textiles, industrial fabrics, and technical textiles, as these yarns form the fundamental building blocks of countless products. Accurate classification under HS 5509 is paramount for trade compliance, directly influencing import duties, quotas, and eligibility for preferential trade agreements. Misclassification can lead to significant delays, penalties, and increased costs. Historically, the rise of synthetic fibres revolutionized the textile industry, offering durability, easy care, and versatility. Yarns under this heading are central to modern mass production. As part of Chapter 55, this heading precisely defines a major category of man-made staple fibre yarns, enabling streamlined international trade in textile intermediates.

What products fall under HS code 5509?

Bulk polyester staple fibre yarn (unbleached), Acrylic staple fibre yarn (dyed), Nylon staple fibre yarn (for carpets), Polypropylene staple fibre yarn (industrial grade), Modacrylic staple fibre yarn (flame retardant), Spun polyester yarn for weaving, Spun acrylic yarn for knitting, High-tenacity nylon staple fibre yarn, Blended synthetic staple fibre yarn (e.g., polyester-cotton blend, with predominant synthetic), Recycled polyester staple fibre yarn, Hollow synthetic staple fibre yarn, Bi-component synthetic staple fibre yarn, Texturized polyester staple fibre yarn, Spun synthetic yarn for upholstery, Industrial synthetic staple yarn for geotextiles, Synthetic staple yarn for automotive fabrics, Yarn for non-woven fabric production (synthetic staple), Polyester-viscose blend yarn (predominant synthetic), Acrylic-wool blend yarn (predominant synthetic), Nylon staple yarn for fishing nets, Polyester staple yarn for ropes, Modacrylic yarn for protective clothing, Spun synthetic yarn for blankets, High-performance synthetic staple yarn, Polyester staple yarn for technical textiles.

What are common misclassifications for HS code 5509?

Key misclassification errors for HS 5509 often involve confusing it with yarns of *artificial* staple fibres (HS 5510), where the distinction between 'synthetic' (e.g., polyester) and 'artificial' (e.g., viscose) is critical. Another common mistake is classifying yarns 'put up for retail sale' (HS 5511) under 5509, overlooking the crucial 'not put up for retail sale' requirement. Furthermore, yarns of synthetic *filaments* (HS 5407) are sometimes incorrectly grouped here, failing to differentiate between 'staple' (spun from short fibres) and 'filament' (continuous fibres) yarns. Precise identification of fibre type, form, and packaging is essential.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5509?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5509 in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.0B, 41% of world exports), India ($426M) and the United States ($389M). World exports came to about $4.9B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Türkiye reports $372M of its chapter 55 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 5509?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5509 in UN Comtrade data were Bangladesh (about $472M, 10% of world imports), Honduras (about $329M) and Vietnam (about $245M). World imports came to about $4.6B, 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 5509 structured?

HS code 5509 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 55 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (55) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (09) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.