HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 59.01 – Textile 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 foundation
What HS 59.01 covers
Heading 5901 encompasses a specialized category of textile fabrics treated with gum or amylaceous substances, primarily intended for specific industrial and artistic applications. This classification includes fabrics used for outer book covers and similar items, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, and buckram or similar stiffened textile fabrics used for hat foundations. The scope is narrow, focusing on treatments that impart stiffness, absorbency, or specific surface characteristics through non-plastic and non-rubber coatings, distinguishing them from other treated textiles within Chapter 59. Key sub-categories include bookbinding cloths, artist's canvases pre-primed for painting, and various forms of buckram used in millinery and other stiffening applications. For trade compliance, correctly classifying under 5901 is crucial to avoid misclassification with plastic-coated fabrics (5903) or untreated base fabrics (Chapters 50-55), which carry different tariff rates and regulatory requirements. Historically, these materials have been vital for crafts like bookbinding and fine art, representing traditional textile finishing techniques that remain essential in niche markets. This heading relates to its parent Chapter 59 by focusing on textiles that have undergone a significant treatment, but it carves out specific non-plastic/non-rubber coatings, reflecting the diverse range of functional finishes applied to textile materials before they become finished articles.
- Covers
- Gum-coated bookbinding cloth
- Starch-coated library buckram
- Prepared tracing cloth for drafting
- Primed cotton canvas for artists
- Stiffened millinery buckram
- Amylaceous-coated fabric for photo albums
- Gummed textile for document boxes
- Starch-treated fabric for decorative packaging
- Linen book cloth
- Cotton duck prepared for painting
- Stiffened interlining for hat brims
- Textile fabric for architectural models (stiffened)
- Starch-filled fabric for lampshades
- Prepared embroidery canvas (stiffened)
- Fabric for sample book covers
- Textile fabric for rigid box covering
- Gummed fabric for binding tapes
- Stiffened textile for theatrical backdrops
- Artist's linen canvas (pre-primed)
- Starch-coated jute fabric for stationery
- Examples
A German art supply company imports large rolls of pre-primed linen canvas from India, which is then stretched onto frames and sold to artists across Europe. This represents a common trade route for specialized art materials. A US publishing house procures starch-coated cotton fabric from China, utilizing it for the hard covers of its popular novel series, highlighting the global supply chain for book production materials. A UK milliner regularly imports high-quality stiffened buckram from Italy for shaping bespoke hat foundations, showcasing the demand for specialized textile components in the fashion industry. A Japanese stationery manufacturer imports tracing cloth from Switzerland for its high-precision technical drawing products, emphasizing the niche market for specialized drafting textiles.
Subheadings under 59.01 2
Codes often confused with 59.01
Common mistake. A common misclassification occurs when traders confuse 5901 with 5903 (plastic-coated textile fabrics). The key distinction is the coating substance: 5901 is strictly for gum or amylaceous substances, whereas 5903 is for plastic coatings. Another mistake is classifying these as basic, untreated textile fabrics (Chapters 50-55), failing to recognize the specific treatment that makes them ready for their specialized end-use. Furthermore, products with rubber coatings are often incorrectly placed here instead of 5906. The specific nature of the coating and the typical end-use (book covers, tracing, painting, hat foundations) are critical for accurate classification.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 5901, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 5901 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 57% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 19% 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 $325M 57% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$47M 8.2% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Netherlands $31M 5.4% of world exports
World total: $572M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $89M 19% of world imports
- 2 Germany $37M 7.8% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$20M 4.3% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $472M 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 59.01
What is HS code 5901?
HS code 5901 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Textile 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 foundation. Heading 5901 encompasses a specialized category of textile fabrics treated with gum or amylaceous substances, primarily intended for specific industrial and artistic applications. This classification includes fabrics used for outer book covers and similar items, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, and buckram or similar stiffened textile fabrics used for hat foundations. The scope is narrow, focusing on treatments that impart stiffness, absorbency, or specific surface characteristics through non-plastic and non-rubber coatings, distinguishing them from other treated textiles within Chapter 59. Key sub-categories include bookbinding cloths, artist's canvases pre-primed for painting, and various forms of buckram used in millinery and other stiffening applications. For trade compliance, correctly classifying under 5901 is crucial to avoid misclassification with plastic-coated fabrics (5903) or untreated base fabrics (Chapters 50-55), which carry different tariff rates and regulatory requirements. Historically, these materials have been vital for crafts like bookbinding and fine art, representing traditional textile finishing techniques that remain essential in niche markets. This heading relates to its parent Chapter 59 by focusing on textiles that have undergone a significant treatment, but it carves out specific non-plastic/non-rubber coatings, reflecting the diverse range of functional finishes applied to textile materials before they become finished articles.
What products fall under HS code 5901?
Gum-coated bookbinding cloth, Starch-coated library buckram, Prepared tracing cloth for drafting, Primed cotton canvas for artists, Stiffened millinery buckram, Amylaceous-coated fabric for photo albums, Gummed textile for document boxes, Starch-treated fabric for decorative packaging, Linen book cloth, Cotton duck prepared for painting, Stiffened interlining for hat brims, Textile fabric for architectural models (stiffened), Starch-filled fabric for lampshades, Prepared embroidery canvas (stiffened), Fabric for sample book covers, Textile fabric for rigid box covering, Gummed fabric for binding tapes, Stiffened textile for theatrical backdrops, Artist's linen canvas (pre-primed), Starch-coated jute fabric for stationery
What are common misclassifications for HS code 5901?
A common misclassification occurs when traders confuse 5901 with 5903 (plastic-coated textile fabrics). The key distinction is the coating substance: 5901 is strictly for gum or amylaceous substances, whereas 5903 is for plastic coatings. Another mistake is classifying these as basic, untreated textile fabrics (Chapters 50-55), failing to recognize the specific treatment that makes them ready for their specialized end-use. Furthermore, products with rubber coatings are often incorrectly placed here instead of 5906. The specific nature of the coating and the typical end-use (book covers, tracing, painting, hat foundations) are critical for accurate classification.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 5901?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 5901 in UN Comtrade data were China ($325M, 57% of world exports), Vietnam (about $47M) and the Netherlands ($31M). World exports came to about $572M, 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 5901?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 5901 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($89M, 19% of world imports), Germany ($37M) and Vietnam (about $20M). World imports came to about $472M, 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 5901 structured?
HS code 5901 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 59 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (59) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (01) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.