Product classification
HS code for Cotton thread waste: 5202.10
Cotton, yarn waste (including thread waste).
Classification of cotton thread waste under HS 5202.10
Cotton thread waste is classified under HS code 520210, which specifically covers yarn waste, including thread waste, derived from cotton. This classification is determined by the material composition and the stage of production. According to the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System (GRI), products are classified based on their constituent material and the specific descriptions provided in the headings. Chapter 52 is dedicated to cotton, and heading 5202 addresses cotton waste of all types. Subheading 520210 is the most specific category for waste generated during the spinning or weaving process that remains in the form of yarn or thread. This includes waste that is tangled, knotted, or otherwise unsuitable for its original intended use but retains the structure of a twisted fiber assembly. The classification is essential for recycling industries and textile manufacturers who trade in secondary raw materials, as it distinguishes between waste that can be garnetted and waste that is already in a yarn-like state.
- Covers
- Broken ends of cotton yarn
- Tangled cotton thread waste
- Spinning frame waste (yarn form)
- Weaving loom yarn waste
- Cotton sewing thread scraps
- Also under 5202.10
- Textile mill yarn offcuts
- garment factory thread trimmings
- recycled cotton mop yarn
- industrial wiping rags (from yarn waste)
Codes often confused with 5202.10
Common mistake. Cotton thread waste is frequently confused with HS code 520291, which covers garnetted stock. The primary difference is that garnetted stock has been processed through a garnetting machine to tear apart rags or yarns back into a fibrous state, whereas 520210 refers to waste that is still in yarn or thread form. Additionally, it may be confused with 520299, which is a residual category for other cotton waste such as carding or combing waste (noils). Accurate classification depends on whether the waste has been mechanically reduced to fiber or remains as a yarn byproduct.
Top exporters and importers of HS 520210 (the code used for cotton thread waste), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 520210 (the code used for cotton thread waste) in UN Comtrade data was Türkiye, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 20% of world imports. Uzbekistan 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 61% of its exports here ($18M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher. Russia 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 79% of its imports here ($13M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 520210, not only cotton thread waste.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Türkiye $13M 27% of world exports
- 2 Bangladesh* ~$6.9M 14% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Uzbekistan* ~$5.2M 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
Uzbekistan 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 61% of its exports here ($18M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
World total: $49M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $9.2M 20% of world imports
- 2 Pakistan $8.6M 19% of world imports
- 3 Türkiye $6.5M 14% of world imports
Russia 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 79% of its imports here ($13M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.
World total: $45M 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 cotton thread waste
Brazil classifies cotton thread waste under NCM 5202.10.00: HS 5202.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cotton thread waste
What is the HS code for Cotton thread waste?
The HS code for Cotton thread waste is 520210 (Cotton; yarn waste (including thread waste)). The HS code for cotton thread waste is 520210, which falls under the category of cotton yarn waste.
How do I classify Cotton thread waste for customs?
Cotton thread waste is classified under HS code 520210 — Cotton; yarn waste (including thread waste). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How does yarn waste differ from garnetted stock in the HS system?
Yarn waste (520210) consists of actual thread or yarn remnants, while garnetted stock (520291) is cotton fiber recovered from textile scraps or rags using a garnetting machine.
Which countries are the top exporters of cotton thread waste (HS 520210)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 520210 (the code used for cotton thread waste) in UN Comtrade data were Türkiye ($13M, 27% of world exports), Bangladesh (about $6.9M) and Uzbekistan (about $5.2M). World exports came to about $49M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Uzbekistan 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 61% of its exports here ($18M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
Which countries are the top importers of cotton thread waste (HS 520210)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 520210 (the code used for cotton thread waste) in UN Comtrade data were India ($9.2M, 20% of world imports), Pakistan ($8.6M) and Türkiye ($6.5M). World imports came to about $45M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Russia 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 79% of its imports here ($13M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.
Is the HS code for Cotton thread waste the same in all countries?
The base HS code 520210 for Cotton thread waste 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 thread waste in Brazil?
In Brazil, cotton thread waste (HS 520210) is classified under NCM 5202.10.00.