Product classification
HS code for Felt hat forms: 6501.00
Hat-forms, hat bodies and hoods of felt, neither blocked to shape nor with made brims, plateaux and manchons (including slit manchons) of felt.
Classification of felt hat forms under HS 6501.00
Felt hat forms are classified under HS code 6501.00 because they represent the primary intermediate stage in the production of headgear. According to the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) and the Explanatory Notes to Chapter 65, this heading covers products that have been felted and shaped into basic forms but have not yet undergone the processes of blocking to a specific size or style, nor have they been fitted with brims. These items, often referred to in the trade as 'hoods' or 'blanks,' are made from either wool felt or fur felt. The classification is determined by the state of manufacture; once a form is blocked or has a brim attached, it moves to heading 65.05. The products under 6501.00 are essentially semi-finished textile articles that possess the essential character of headgear but lack the final structural finishing. This includes 'plateaux' (flat circular pieces) and 'manchons' (cylindrical forms), which are used as the starting point for various types of hats. The material composition must be felt, which is a non-woven fabric produced by matting, condensing, and pressing fibers together using moisture and heat.
- Covers
- Felt hat bodies
- Felt hoods (unblocked)
- Felt plateaux (flat discs)
- Felt manchons (cylinders)
- Slit manchons for hat making
- Wool felt hat blanks
- Fur felt hat forms
- Also under 6501.00
- Akubra felt bodies
- Stetson hat forms (pre-shaped)
- Borsalino felt blanks
- Miller Hats felt cones
- Art of Hatmaking felt hoods
Codes often confused with 6501.00
Common mistake. Felt hat forms are frequently confused with finished hats under HS code 6505.00. The distinction lies in whether the item has been 'blocked to shape' or has a 'made brim.' If a felt form has been shaped on a hat block to a specific head size, it is no longer classified under 6501.00. Additionally, raw felt in the piece (rolls or sheets) that has not been shaped into a hood or plateau is classified under HS code 5602, which covers felt not elsewhere specified.
Top exporters and importers of HS 650100 (the code used for felt hat forms), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 650100 (the code used for felt hat forms) in UN Comtrade data was Portugal, with 43% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 50% 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 650100, not only felt hat forms.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Portugal $50M 43% of world exports
- 2 Bolivia $19M 16% of world exports
- 3 China $12M 10% of world exports
World total: $117M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $55M 50% of world imports
- 2 Italy $12M 11% of world imports
- 3 Mexico $10M 9.5% of world imports
World total: $109M 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 felt hat forms
Brazil classifies felt hat forms under NCM 6501.00.00: HS 6501.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about felt hat forms
What is the HS code for Felt hat forms?
The HS code for Felt hat forms is 650100 (Hat-forms, hat bodies and hoods of felt, neither blocked to shape nor with made brims; plateaux and manchons (including slit manchons) of felt). The HS code for felt hat forms, including hoods, plateaux, and manchons that are not blocked to shape, is 6501.00.
How do I classify Felt hat forms for customs?
Felt hat forms is classified under HS code 650100 — Hat-forms, hat bodies and hoods of felt, neither blocked to shape nor with made brims; plateaux and manchons (including slit manchons) of felt. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between a hat hood and a hat block?
A hat hood (6501.00) is the semi-finished felt material, while a hat block (8449.00) is the wooden or metal tool used to shape the hood into a finished hat.
Which countries are the top exporters of felt hat forms (HS 650100)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 650100 (the code used for felt hat forms) in UN Comtrade data were Portugal ($50M, 43% of world exports), Bolivia ($19M) and China ($12M). World exports came to about $117M, 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 felt hat forms (HS 650100)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 650100 (the code used for felt hat forms) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($55M, 50% of world imports), Italy ($12M) and Mexico ($10M). World imports came to about $109M, 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 Felt hat forms the same in all countries?
The base HS code 650100 for Felt hat forms 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 felt hat forms in Brazil?
In Brazil, felt hat forms (HS 650100) is classified under NCM 6501.00.00.