Product classification
HS code for Bookbinding cloth: 5901.10
Textile fabrics, coated with gum or amylaceous substances, of a kind used for the outer covers of books or the like.
Classification of bookbinding cloth under HS 5901.10
Bookbinding cloth is classified under HS code 5901.10, which falls within Chapter 59: Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics. This classification is specific to textile fabrics that have been coated with gum or amylaceous (starch-based) substances. The primary purpose of this coating is to provide the fabric with the necessary stiffness, durability, and surface texture required for the outer covers of books, journals, or similar bound items. The base fabric is usually cotton or a cotton blend, but the classification is driven by the specific treatment and the intended end-use. The coating must be visible to the naked eye or significantly alter the physical properties of the textile to qualify under heading 5901. This material is essential for the publishing and stationery industries, providing a professional and protective finish to hardbound volumes. The classification excludes fabrics that are simply stiffened with sizing but not fully coated.
- Covers
- Starch-coated cotton cloth for book covers
- Gum-coated textile fabrics for ledger binding
- Amylaceous-coated buckram for library binding
- Coated fabrics for the manufacture of folders and albums
- Also under 5901.10
- F. Schumacher bookbinding fabrics
- Holliston Mills book cloth
- Winter & Company bookbinding materials
- university press book covers
- archival book repair cloth
Codes often confused with 5901.10
Common mistake. Bookbinding cloth is often misclassified under 3921 or 5903 if the coating is made of plastics like PVC or polyurethane rather than gum or starch. It may also be confused with 4810 if the material is actually a high-quality coated paper designed to look like cloth. If the fabric is impregnated with nitrocellulose, it might fall under 5905. Plain textile fabrics without the specific gum/starch coating remain in their respective chapters (e.g., Chapter 52 for cotton).
Top exporters and importers of HS 590110 (the code used for bookbinding cloth), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 590110 (the code used for bookbinding cloth) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 33% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 14% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 590110, not only bookbinding cloth.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $36M 33% of world exports
- 2 Czechia $19M 18% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $16M 15% of world exports
World total: $107M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $10M 14% of world imports
- 2 Saudi Arabia $5.9M 8.0% of world imports
- 3 United States $3.9M 5.3% of world imports
World total: $74M 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 bookbinding cloth
Brazil classifies bookbinding cloth under NCM 5901.10.00: HS 5901.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about bookbinding cloth
What is the HS code for Bookbinding cloth?
The HS code for Bookbinding cloth is 590110 (Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, of a kind used for the outer covers of books or the like). The HS code for textile fabrics coated with gum or amylaceous substances of a kind used for the outer covers of books is 5901.10.
How do I classify Bookbinding cloth for customs?
Bookbinding cloth is classified under HS code 590110 — Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, of a kind used for the outer covers of books or the like. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can synthetic fabrics be classified here?
Yes, as long as the coating is gum or amylaceous and the intended use is for bookbinding or similar covers, the base textile can be synthetic.
Which countries are the top exporters of bookbinding cloth (HS 590110)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 590110 (the code used for bookbinding cloth) in UN Comtrade data were China ($36M, 33% of world exports), Czechia ($19M) and the Netherlands ($16M). World exports came to about $107M, 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 bookbinding cloth (HS 590110)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 590110 (the code used for bookbinding cloth) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($10M, 14% of world imports), Saudi Arabia ($5.9M) and the United States ($3.9M). World imports came to about $74M, 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.
Is the HS code for Bookbinding cloth the same in all countries?
The base HS code 590110 for Bookbinding cloth is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for bookbinding cloth in Brazil?
In Brazil, bookbinding cloth (HS 590110) is classified under NCM 5901.10.00.