Product classification
HS code for Bulk silk thread: 5004.00
Silk, yarn (other than yarn spun from silk waste), not put up for retail sale.
Classification of bulk silk thread under HS 5004.00
Bulk silk thread, specifically yarn other than that spun from silk waste, is classified under HS code 5004.00. This code is part of Chapter 50, which covers silk in various stages of production. The classification is based on the material composition (pure silk or high-percentage silk) and the form in which it is presented. Because the thread is not "put up for retail sale," it is intended for industrial manufacturing, such as weaving or knitting into fabrics. The distinction between 5004.00 and other silk yarns lies in the source of the fiber; 5004.00 excludes yarn derived from silk waste (noil), which is classified under 5005.00. The technical specifications of the yarn, including its twist and ply, do not change its primary classification under 5004.00 as long as it remains an industrial intermediate product. This code is essential for textile manufacturers who import raw silk yarn for large-scale garment or upholstery production.
- Covers
- Pure silk yarn on industrial cones
- Mulberry silk thread for weaving
- Twisted silk yarn for industrial embroidery
- Unbleached or bleached silk yarn in bulk hanks
- Dyed silk yarn not packaged for retail
- Also under 5004.00
- Bombyx mori thrown silk yarn
- Mulberry silk yarn (bulk)
- Tussah silk yarn (industrial)
- Eri silk yarn (bulk)
Codes often confused with 5004.00
Common mistake. Bulk silk thread is often confused with HS code 5005.00, which is specifically for yarn spun from silk waste. It is also frequently misclassified under 5006.00, which covers silk yarn "put up for retail sale." To be in 5006.00, the yarn must meet specific weight and packaging criteria (e.g., on cards, reels, or in balls of a certain weight). If the yarn is on large industrial bobbins, it must remain in 5004.00. Another error is using 5002.00, which is for raw silk that has not yet been spun into yarn.
Top exporters and importers of HS 500400 (the code used for bulk silk thread), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 500400 (the code used for bulk silk thread) in UN Comtrade data was Romania, with 35% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 48% 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 500400, not only bulk silk thread.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Romania $81M 35% of world exports
- 2 China $67M 28% of world exports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$29M 12% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $234M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Italy $102M 48% of world imports
- 2 Japan $26M 12% of world imports
- 3 India $18M 8.7% of world imports
World total: $211M 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 bulk silk thread
Brazil classifies bulk silk thread under NCM 5004.00.00: HS 5004.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about bulk silk thread
What is the HS code for Bulk silk thread?
The HS code for Bulk silk thread is 500400 (Silk; yarn (other than yarn spun from silk waste), not put up for retail sale). The HS code for bulk silk thread (yarn not from waste, not for retail sale) is 5004.00.
How do I classify Bulk silk thread for customs?
Bulk silk thread is classified under HS code 500400 — Silk; yarn (other than yarn spun from silk waste), not put up for retail sale. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What defines silk yarn as "not for retail sale"?
It is generally defined by the weight of the unit and the type of support (like large industrial cones) which indicates it is for manufacturing rather than individual consumer use.
Which countries are the top exporters of bulk silk thread (HS 500400)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 500400 (the code used for bulk silk thread) in UN Comtrade data were Romania ($81M, 35% of world exports), China ($67M) and Vietnam (about $29M). World exports came to about $234M, 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 bulk silk thread (HS 500400)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 500400 (the code used for bulk silk thread) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($102M, 48% of world imports), Japan ($26M) and India ($18M). World imports came to about $211M, 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 Bulk silk thread the same in all countries?
The base HS code 500400 for Bulk silk thread 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 bulk silk thread in Brazil?
In Brazil, bulk silk thread (HS 500400) is classified under NCM 5004.00.00.