Product classification

HS code for Buckram: 5901.90

Textile fabrics, coated with gum or amylaceous substances, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations, (excluding book covers).

Classification of buckram under HS 5901.90

Buckram is classified under HS code 5901.90 because it belongs to a specific category of textile fabrics that have been treated with stiffening agents. According to the Harmonized System, Chapter 59 covers impregnated, coated, covered, or laminated textile fabrics. Heading 5901 specifically addresses textile fabrics coated with gum or amylaceous substances, which are traditionally used for book covers, tracing cloth, or prepared painting canvas. Buckram is a heavy-weight fabric, typically made of cotton or linen, that has been saturated with these substances to provide significant rigidity. Subheading 5901.90 is the residual category for these stiffened fabrics, excluding those specifically intended for bookbinding (which are often categorized under 5901.10). The classification is determined by the physical application of the coating and the resulting stiffness, which makes the fabric suitable for structural uses in millinery and garment construction.

Covers
  • Stiffened cotton buckram for hat foundations
  • Double-crown buckram
  • Millinery buckram for theatrical headwear
  • Amylaceous coated linen fabrics
  • Heavy-duty stiffened canvas for drapery headers
Also under 5901.90
  • Winsor & Newton prepared canvas
  • Strathmore tracing cloth
  • J.J. Hat Center buckram
  • Pellon stiff interfacing
  • Fredrix artist canvas

Codes often confused with 5901.90

Common mistake. Buckram is frequently misclassified under HS code 5208, 5209, or 5210, which cover standard woven cotton fabrics. However, once a fabric is coated with gum or starch to the point of becoming buckram, it must move to Chapter 59. Another common error is using 5901.10, which is reserved specifically for fabrics used for book covers. If the buckram is intended for hats or general stiffening, 5901.90 is the correct designation.

52.08Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m252.09Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing more than 200g/m252.10Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing not more than 200 g/m25901.10Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, of a kind used for the outer covers of books or the like

Top exporters and importers of HS 590190 (the code used for buckram), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 590190 (the code used for buckram) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 62% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 21% 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 590190, not only buckram.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $289M
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$47M
  3. 3 Cambodia* ~$26M

World total: $465M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $85M
  2. 2 Germany $26M
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$19M

World total: $398M 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.

Brazil NCM code for buckram

Brazil classifies buckram under NCM 5901.90.00: HS 5901.90 with 00 added.

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about buckram

What is the HS code for Buckram?

The HS code for Buckram is 590190 (Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations, (excluding book covers)). The HS code for buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics (excluding those for book covers) is 5901.90.

How do I classify Buckram for customs?

Buckram is classified under HS code 590190 — Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations, (excluding book covers). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Is buckram classified differently if it is made of synthetic fibers?

No, heading 5901 applies to textile fabrics regardless of the fiber composition, provided they are coated with gum or amylaceous substances for stiffening purposes.

Which countries are the top exporters of buckram (HS 590190)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 590190 (the code used for buckram) in UN Comtrade data were China ($289M, 62% of world exports), Vietnam (about $47M) and Cambodia (about $26M). World exports came to about $465M, 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 buckram (HS 590190)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 590190 (the code used for buckram) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($85M, 21% of world imports), Germany ($26M) and Vietnam (about $19M). World imports came to about $398M, 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 Buckram the same in all countries?

The base HS code 590190 for Buckram 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 buckram in Brazil?

In Brazil, buckram (HS 590190) is classified under NCM 5901.90.00.