Product classification
HS code for Cotton lint: 5201.00
Cotton, not carded or combed.
Classification of cotton lint under HS 5201.00
Cotton lint is classified under HS code 520100, which encompasses cotton that has not been carded or combed. This code represents the rawest form of cotton fiber after the ginning process has removed the seeds, husks, and other foreign matter. In the hierarchy of Chapter 52, which covers cotton and cotton products, 5201 is the starting point for raw fibers. The classification remains here as long as the fiber has not undergone the mechanical alignment processes of carding or combing, which would move the product to heading 5203. This code is vital for the global trade of raw commodities and is used by agricultural exporters to define bulk shipments of ginned cotton. The term "lint" specifically refers to the long fibers removed from the seed, as opposed to "linters," which are the shorter fibers remaining on the seed after the first ginning. Proper classification requires that the cotton has not been further processed into yarn or fabric, maintaining its status as a raw material. It is also distinct from cotton waste, which is generated during the spinning or weaving processes and is classified under heading 5202. The physical state of the cotton, typically compressed into large bales for shipping, does not change its classification under 520100, provided no chemical or mechanical combing has occurred.
- Covers
- Ginned raw cotton
- Cotton lint in compressed bales
- Raw cotton fibers with seeds removed
- Unprocessed cotton fiber for textile mills
- Also under 5201.00
- US Upland cotton bales
- Indian Shankar-6 cotton
- Brazilian Acala cotton
- Australian cotton lint
- West African cotton
Codes often confused with 5201.00
Common mistake. Cotton lint is often confused with 520300, which covers cotton that has been carded or combed. It is also sometimes confused with 520299 (cotton waste). The key is the stage of processing: 520100 is post-ginning but pre-carding.
Top exporters and importers of HS 520100 (the code used for cotton lint), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 520100 (the code used for cotton lint) in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 17% of world imports. Bangladesh did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 520100, not only cotton lint.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Brazil $4.9B 32% of world exports
- 2 United States $4.8B 32% of world exports
- 3 Australia $2.2B 15% of world exports
World total: $15.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Vietnam* ~$2.5B 17% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 Bangladesh* ~$2.1B 14% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 China $1.9B 13% of world imports
Bangladesh did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
World total: $14.5B 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 codes for cotton lint
Brazil splits HS 5201.00 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 5201.00.10Cotton not ginned, not carded or combed
- 5201.00.20Cotton merely ginned, not carded or combed
- 5201.00.90Other cotton, not carded or combed
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cotton lint
What is the HS code for Cotton lint?
The HS code for Cotton lint is 520100 (Cotton; not carded or combed). The HS code for raw cotton lint that has not been carded or combed is 520100.
How do I classify Cotton lint for customs?
Cotton lint is classified under HS code 520100 — Cotton; not carded or combed. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does 520100 include cotton with seeds?
While 520100 primarily covers ginned cotton, raw cotton still containing seeds is also classified here as it is the most basic form of the fiber before processing.
Which countries are the top exporters of cotton lint (HS 520100)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 520100 (the code used for cotton lint) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($4.9B, 32% of world exports), the United States ($4.8B) and Australia ($2.2B). World exports came to about $15.2B, 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 cotton lint (HS 520100)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 520100 (the code used for cotton lint) in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $2.5B, 17% of world imports), Bangladesh (about $2.1B) and China ($1.9B). World imports came to about $14.5B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Bangladesh did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
Is the HS code for Cotton lint the same in all countries?
The base HS code 520100 for Cotton lint 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 cotton lint in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 520100 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for cotton lint depends on the product's details: 5201.00.10 (Cotton not ginned, not carded or combed), 5201.00.20 (Cotton merely ginned, not carded or combed), 5201.00.90 (Other cotton, not carded or combed).