HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 59 – Textile fabrics; impregnated, coated, covered or laminated; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use

What HS 59 covers

Chapter 59 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to "Textile fabrics; impregnated, coated, covered or laminated; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use." This chapter is pivotal for classifying specialized textile products that have undergone specific treatments or are designed for particular technical and industrial applications, distinguishing them from basic woven or knitted textiles. Its scope encompasses fabrics where the textile base has been significantly modified through impregnation, coating, covering, or lamination with substances like plastics, rubber, or other compounds, thereby enhancing properties such as waterproofing, rigidity, airtightness, or abrasion resistance. It also includes a diverse range of textile articles specifically engineered for technical and industrial uses, such as bolting cloth, straining cloth, transmission belts, and textile wicks. Key sub-categories within Chapter 59 include impregnated or coated fabrics (e.g., rubberized textiles under 59.06, plastic-coated textiles under 59.03), specific textile floor coverings like linoleum (59.04), and a broad array of textile articles for technical uses detailed in heading 59.11. This classification is critical for trade compliance because duty rates, import restrictions, and regulatory standards (e.g., flammability, chemical composition) can differ substantially based on the fabric's treatment and intended application. Misclassification can lead to significant financial penalties, customs delays, and non-compliance issues. Historically, this chapter reflects the global shift towards high-performance and functional textiles, driven by advancements in material science and the increasing demand from industries such as automotive, construction, medical, and protective equipment, making it a dynamic and economically significant area of international trade.

Covers
  • PVC-coated polyester fabric for tarpaulins
  • Rubberized cotton fabric for raincoats
  • Polyurethane-laminated nylon fabric for outdoor gear
  • Silicon-coated fiberglass fabric for fire blankets
  • Acrylic-coated textile for awnings
  • Bolting cloth for screen printing
  • Textile conveyor belts for industrial machinery
  • Fabric-reinforced rubber hosepipes
  • Linoleum floor coverings
  • Prepared canvas for artists' painting
  • Tracing cloth for technical drawings
  • Tire cord fabric for vehicle tires
  • Textile wicks for candles
  • Incandescent gas mantles
  • Filter cloths for industrial filtration
  • Geotextiles (coated/laminated types)
  • Abrasive-coated textile backing for sandpaper
  • Scouring pads of textile material
  • Textile transmission belts for engines
  • Textile articles for polishing machinery
  • Sound-absorbing textile panels (coated)
  • Waterproof breathable textile laminates
  • Textile wall coverings (e.g., vinyl-backed fabric)
  • Textile-reinforced surgical drapes
  • Textile diaphragms for pumps
Examples

A German manufacturer imports large rolls of PVC-coated polyester fabric (HS 5903.10) from China to produce durable truck tarpaulins and industrial tents, with the goods typically shipped via ocean freight through the Suez Canal to the Port of Hamburg. An American company exports specialized nylon bolting cloth (HS 5911.20) to Mexico for use in high-precision screen printing for the electronics industry, leveraging the USMCA agreement for tariff benefits, with transport usually by truck across the border. A Japanese automotive tire producer imports high-tenacity rayon tire cord fabric (HS 5902.10) from Thailand to its manufacturing plants in Japan, where it is integrated into tire production, often transported by container vessels across the Pacific. A British retailer sources large quantities of linoleum floor covering (HS 5904.10) from a factory in Belgium, benefiting from the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement for streamlined customs, with goods arriving via roll-on/roll-off ferries. An Indian textile firm exports rubberized cotton fabric (HS 5906.91) to Bangladesh for the manufacture of protective rainwear, utilizing SAFTA for preferential duties, transported primarily by land routes.

Headings in chapter 59 11

59.01Textile fabrics, gum or amylaceous substance coated, used for outer book covers and like; tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas; buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics used for hat foundation59.02Textile fabrics; tyrecord of high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides polyesters or viscose rayon59.03Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics, other than those of heading no. 590259.04Linoleum, whether or not cut to shape; floor coverings consisting of a coating or covering applied on a textile backing, whether or not cut to shape59.05Textile wall coverings59.06Textile fabrics, rubberised; other than those of heading no. 590259.07Textile fabrics; otherwise impregnated, coated or covered; painted canvas being theatrical scenery, studio back-cloths or the like59.08Textile wicks, woven, plaited or knitted; for lamps, stoves, lighters, candles or the like; incandescent gas mantles and tubular knitted gas mantle fabric therefor, whether or not impregnated59.09Textile hose piping and similar textile tubing; with or without lining, armour or accessories of other materials59.10Textiles; transmission or conveyor belts or belting, of textile material, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics, or reinforced with metal or other material59.11Textile products and articles for technical uses; specified in note 7 to this chapter

27 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 59 →

Codes often confused with 59

Common mistake. Traders frequently misclassify products under Chapter 59 by failing to correctly interpret the terms 'impregnated, coated, covered or laminated' or 'suitable for industrial use.' A common error is classifying simple dyed, printed, or merely sized fabrics here, which should instead fall under Chapters 50-55 (basic textiles) or Chapter 58 (special woven fabrics). For instance, a fabric merely stiffened with starch is not considered 'impregnated' for Chapter 59 purposes. Another frequent mistake involves composite materials: if a textile is merely a reinforcement and the plastic or rubber component provides the essential character, the product might correctly belong in Chapter 39 (plastics) or Chapter 40 (rubber), not Chapter 59. For example, a thick plastic sheet with a thin textile backing could be misclassified here when it belongs to Chapter 39. Lastly, distinguishing between industrial and non-industrial end-uses is crucial; a coated fabric intended for apparel might be 59.03, but if it's already a finished garment, it would be classified under Chapter 62.

Top exporters and importers of HS code 59, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 59 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 35% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 11% 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 $10.0B
  2. 2 Germany $2.9B
  3. 3 United States $1.8B

World total: $28.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $2.9B
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$2.1B
  3. 3 Mexico $1.5B

World total: $26.6B 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 59

What is HS code 59?

HS code 59 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Textile fabrics; impregnated, coated, covered or laminated; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use. Chapter 59 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to "Textile fabrics; impregnated, coated, covered or laminated; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use." This chapter is pivotal for classifying specialized textile products that have undergone specific treatments or are designed for particular technical and industrial applications, distinguishing them from basic woven or knitted textiles. Its scope encompasses fabrics where the textile base has been significantly modified through impregnation, coating, covering, or lamination with substances like plastics, rubber, or other compounds, thereby enhancing properties such as waterproofing, rigidity, airtightness, or abrasion resistance. It also includes a diverse range of textile articles specifically engineered for technical and industrial uses, such as bolting cloth, straining cloth, transmission belts, and textile wicks. Key sub-categories within Chapter 59 include impregnated or coated fabrics (e.g., rubberized textiles under 59.06, plastic-coated textiles under 59.03), specific textile floor coverings like linoleum (59.04), and a broad array of textile articles for technical uses detailed in heading 59.11. This classification is critical for trade compliance because duty rates, import restrictions, and regulatory standards (e.g., flammability, chemical composition) can differ substantially based on the fabric's treatment and intended application. Misclassification can lead to significant financial penalties, customs delays, and non-compliance issues. Historically, this chapter reflects the global shift towards high-performance and functional textiles, driven by advancements in material science and the increasing demand from industries such as automotive, construction, medical, and protective equipment, making it a dynamic and economically significant area of international trade.

What products fall under HS code 59?

PVC-coated polyester fabric for tarpaulins, rubberized cotton fabric for raincoats, polyurethane-laminated nylon fabric for outdoor gear, silicon-coated fiberglass fabric for fire blankets, acrylic-coated textile for awnings, bolting cloth for screen printing, textile conveyor belts for industrial machinery, fabric-reinforced rubber hosepipes, linoleum floor coverings, prepared canvas for artists' painting, tracing cloth for technical drawings, tire cord fabric for vehicle tires, textile wicks for candles, incandescent gas mantles, filter cloths for industrial filtration, geotextiles (coated/laminated types), abrasive-coated textile backing for sandpaper, scouring pads of textile material, textile transmission belts for engines, textile articles for polishing machinery, sound-absorbing textile panels (coated), waterproof breathable textile laminates, textile wall coverings (e.g., vinyl-backed fabric), textile-reinforced surgical drapes, textile diaphragms for pumps

What are common misclassifications for HS code 59?

Traders frequently misclassify products under Chapter 59 by failing to correctly interpret the terms 'impregnated, coated, covered or laminated' or 'suitable for industrial use.' A common error is classifying simple dyed, printed, or merely sized fabrics here, which should instead fall under Chapters 50-55 (basic textiles) or Chapter 58 (special woven fabrics). For instance, a fabric merely stiffened with starch is not considered 'impregnated' for Chapter 59 purposes. Another frequent mistake involves composite materials: if a textile is merely a reinforcement and the plastic or rubber component provides the essential character, the product might correctly belong in Chapter 39 (plastics) or Chapter 40 (rubber), not Chapter 59. For example, a thick plastic sheet with a thin textile backing could be misclassified here when it belongs to Chapter 39. Lastly, distinguishing between industrial and non-industrial end-uses is crucial; a coated fabric intended for apparel might be 59.03, but if it's already a finished garment, it would be classified under Chapter 62.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 59?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 59 in UN Comtrade data were China ($10.0B, 35% of world exports), Germany ($2.9B) and the United States ($1.8B). World exports came to about $28.3B, 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 59?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 59 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($2.9B, 11% of world imports), Vietnam (about $2.1B) and Mexico ($1.5B). World imports came to about $26.6B, 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 59 structured?

HS code 59 is a 2-digit chapter code in the Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization. It represents a broad category of goods and contains multiple 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings for more specific classifications.