HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 5911.20 – Textile products and articles for technical uses; bolting cloth, whether or not made up
HS code 5911.20 is the 6-digit subheading for textile products and articles for technical uses, bolting cloth, whether or not made up. It is used for silk bolting cloth, polyester bolting cloth, nylon bolting cloth, flour sifting screens and screen printing mesh.
What HS 5911.20 covers
This code specifically identifies 'bolting cloth,' a finely woven textile product used for technical applications, whether or not it has been made up into finished articles. Bolting cloth is characterized by its precise and uniform mesh, making it ideal for sifting, filtering, and screen printing processes where consistent aperture size is critical. Its technical utility lies in its ability to separate particles accurately or to create detailed stencils. Importers are industries involved in milling (e.g., flour mills), chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, and graphic arts. Exporters are specialized textile manufacturers producing high-precision woven fabrics, often from synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, or traditionally from silk. The 'bolting cloth' designation is critical for proper classification.
- Covers
- Silk bolting cloth
- Polyester bolting cloth
- Nylon bolting cloth
- Flour sifting screens
- Screen printing mesh
- Filter screens for industrial use
- Precision sieving fabrics
- Examples
- Sefar Bolting Cloth
- Saati Screen Printing Mesh
- NBC Meshtec
- Tetko (now Sefar)
- Reemay (for filtration)
Codes often confused with 5911.20
Common mistake. Could be confused with general filtering or straining cloths (591140) if the specific 'bolting cloth' characteristics (precision mesh) are not recognized, or with other technical fabrics (591190) if its primary function is not clearly sifting/filtering/screen printing.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 591120, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 591120 in UN Comtrade data was Switzerland, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 16% 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 Switzerland $77M 27% of world exports
- 2 China $55M 19% of world exports
- 3 Romania $30M 11% of world exports
World total: $283M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $50M 16% of world imports
- 2 United States $40M 13% of world imports
- 3 Germany $37M 12% of world imports
World total: $313M 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 that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. 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.
Brazil NCM codes for 5911.20 2
Brazil splits HS 5911.20 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 5911.20.10 Man-made fibre bolting cloth in the pieceDe matéria têxtil sintética ou artificial, em peça
- 5911.20.90 Other bolting cloth, whether or not made upOutras
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 59.11 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 5911.20
What is HS code 591120?
HS code 591120 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Textile products and articles for technical uses; bolting cloth, whether or not made up. This code specifically identifies 'bolting cloth,' a finely woven textile product used for technical applications, whether or not it has been made up into finished articles. Bolting cloth is characterized by its precise and uniform mesh, making it ideal for sifting, filtering, and screen printing processes where consistent aperture size is critical. Its technical utility lies in its ability to separate particles accurately or to create detailed stencils. Importers are industries involved in milling (e.g., flour mills), chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, and graphic arts. Exporters are specialized textile manufacturers producing high-precision woven fabrics, often from synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, or traditionally from silk. The 'bolting cloth' designation is critical for proper classification.
What products fall under HS code 591120?
Silk bolting cloth, polyester bolting cloth, nylon bolting cloth, flour sifting screens, screen printing mesh, filter screens for industrial use, precision sieving fabrics
What are common misclassifications for HS code 591120?
Could be confused with general filtering or straining cloths (591140) if the specific 'bolting cloth' characteristics (precision mesh) are not recognized, or with other technical fabrics (591190) if its primary function is not clearly sifting/filtering/screen printing.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 591120?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 591120 in UN Comtrade data were Switzerland ($77M, 27% of world exports), China ($55M) and Romania ($30M). World exports came to about $283M, 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 591120?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 591120 in UN Comtrade data were China ($50M, 16% of world imports), the United States ($40M) and Germany ($37M). World imports came to about $313M, 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 591120 structured?
HS code 591120 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (59) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (11) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (20) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 591120?
Brazil splits HS code 591120 into 2 NCM codes: 5911.20.10 (Man-made fibre bolting cloth in the piece), 5911.20.90 (Other bolting cloth, whether or not made up). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.