HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 5911.40 – Textile products and articles for technical uses; straining cloth of a kind used in oil presses and the like, including that of human hair
HS code 5911.40 is the 6-digit subheading for textile products and articles for technical uses, straining cloth of a kind used in oil presses and the like, including that of human hair. It is used for oil press filter cloths, fruit juice straining bags, industrial filter cloths, sludge dewatering cloths and membrane filter press cloths.
What HS 5911.40 covers
This HS code covers specialized straining cloths designed for technical uses, particularly in applications like oil presses and similar liquid-solid separation processes. These textiles are engineered for strength, chemical resistance, and efficient filtration, often under high pressure. The category specifically mentions the inclusion of straining cloth made of human hair, highlighting the unique material properties sometimes employed for specific filtration needs. These cloths are crucial for extracting liquids from solids in various industrial settings. Importers include food processing industries (e.g., olive oil, fruit juice), chemical plants, and waste treatment facilities. Exporters are specialized technical textile manufacturers who produce durable and effective filtration media. The 'straining cloth' and 'oil presses' application are central to this classification.
- Covers
- Oil press filter cloths
- Fruit juice straining bags
- Industrial filter cloths
- Sludge dewatering cloths
- Membrane filter press cloths
- Human hair filter cloths
- Woven filter media for presses
- Examples
- Sefar Filter Fabrics
- Saati Filtration
- Clear Edge Filtration
- Micronics Filtration
- GKD Group (filter media)
Codes often confused with 5911.40
Common mistake. Can be confused with general filtering fabrics (591120 for bolting cloth, or even 5603 for nonwovens) if the specific application in 'oil presses and the like' is not recognized, or with other technical textiles (591190) if its primary function is not straining/filtration.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 591140, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 591140 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 28% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 12% 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 $128M 28% of world exports
- 2 Germany $103M 23% of world exports
- 3 Japan $49M 11% of world exports
World total: $457M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $48M 12% of world imports
- 2 Poland $38M 9.0% of world imports
- 3 United States $35M 8.4% of world imports
World total: $419M 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 code for 5911.40
Brazil does not split HS 5911.40: its NCM code is 5911.40.00.
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 5911.40
What is HS code 591140?
HS code 591140 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Textile products and articles for technical uses; straining cloth of a kind used in oil presses and the like, including that of human hair. This HS code covers specialized straining cloths designed for technical uses, particularly in applications like oil presses and similar liquid-solid separation processes. These textiles are engineered for strength, chemical resistance, and efficient filtration, often under high pressure. The category specifically mentions the inclusion of straining cloth made of human hair, highlighting the unique material properties sometimes employed for specific filtration needs. These cloths are crucial for extracting liquids from solids in various industrial settings. Importers include food processing industries (e.g., olive oil, fruit juice), chemical plants, and waste treatment facilities. Exporters are specialized technical textile manufacturers who produce durable and effective filtration media. The 'straining cloth' and 'oil presses' application are central to this classification.
What products fall under HS code 591140?
Oil press filter cloths, fruit juice straining bags, industrial filter cloths, sludge dewatering cloths, membrane filter press cloths, human hair filter cloths, woven filter media for presses
What are common misclassifications for HS code 591140?
Can be confused with general filtering fabrics (591120 for bolting cloth, or even 5603 for nonwovens) if the specific application in 'oil presses and the like' is not recognized, or with other technical textiles (591190) if its primary function is not straining/filtration.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 591140?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 591140 in UN Comtrade data were China ($128M, 28% of world exports), Germany ($103M) and Japan ($49M). World exports came to about $457M, 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 591140?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 591140 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($48M, 12% of world imports), Poland ($38M) and the United States ($35M). World imports came to about $419M, 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 591140 structured?
HS code 591140 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 (40) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 591140?
In Brazil, HS code 591140 is NCM 5911.40.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.