HS Code 64.04 – Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials

HS code 6404 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials. Heading 6404 is a widely used classification for 'Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials'. This category captures a significant portion of the global footwear market, particularly for casual, athletic, and fashion-oriented shoes where comfort, breathability, and design flexibility are paramount. The defining characteristic is the 'textile material' upper, which can range from cotton canvas and denim to synthetic meshes, knits, and various other woven or non-woven fabrics. The outer sole, however, offers versatility, allowing for rubber, plastics, leather, or even composition leather, catering to diverse functional and aesthetic requirements. This heading encompasses a vast array of footwear, including popular canvas sneakers, fabric-upper athletic shoes, espadrilles, and textile slippers. It's crucial for trade compliance to accurately identify the primary material of the upper. If the upper is predominantly textile, even with minor leather or plastic accents, it generally falls here. However, strict interpretation often requires the textile material to constitute more than 50% of the external surface area of the upper. Misclassification can occur if textile uppers are mistaken for leather (6403) or entirely rubber/plastic (6402). The rise of synthetic textiles and advanced knitting technologies has made 6404 a dynamic and high-volume category, reflecting innovation in performance and style. This heading is integral to Chapter 64, 'Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles', highlighting its importance in the broader footwear trade.

Canvas sneakers, fabric athletic shoes, textile mesh running shoes, espadrilles (with textile uppers), fabric slippers, denim shoes, knitted upper casual shoes, textile fashion boots, textile deck shoes, fabric ballet flats, fabric loafers, fabric tennis shoes, textile casual walking shoes, fabric-upper plimsolls, textile hiking shoes (non-leather), fabric slip-on shoes, textile trainers, fabric court shoes, textile boat shoes, textile golf shoes, fabric children's shoes, textile sandals, fabric moccasins, textile driving shoes, textile safety shoes (with textile uppers).

The most frequent misclassification under 6404 occurs with 6403 ('Footwear; with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather'). The key is the upper material: textile vs. leather. Traders often confuse footwear with synthetic leather or very small leather accents with genuine leather uppers, leading to incorrect classification. Another error is confusing it with 6402 (rubber/plastic uppers) if the textile is heavily coated or laminated with plastic. The 'more than 50% by surface area' rule for the upper material is crucial here. Also, very simple textile slippers might sometimes be confused with 'other made-up textile articles' (Chapter 63), but if clearly identifiable as footwear, 6404 is generally correct.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 6404 in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $16.2B, 32% of world exports), China ($10.8B) and Germany ($3.2B). World exports came to about $50.3B, 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.

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 6404 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($7.9B, 16% of world imports), Germany ($5.0B) and France ($3.2B). World imports came to about $48.9B, 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.

HS code 6404 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 64 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (64) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (04) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.