Product classification
HS code for Hat shapes: 6502.00
Hat-shapes, plaited or made by assembling strips of any material, neither blocked to shape, nor with made brims, nor lined, nor trimmed.
Classification of hat shapes under HS 6502.00
Hat shapes are classified under HS code 650200. This code is located in Chapter 65 and is specifically reserved for hat-shapes that are plaited or made by assembling strips of any material. A critical requirement for this classification is that the shapes must be in a semi-finished state: they must not be blocked to shape, must not have made brims, and must not be lined or trimmed. This distinguishes them from finished hats classified under 6504. The materials used for these shapes can vary widely, including natural straw, wood shavings, plastic strips, or paper. The manufacturing process involves interlacing these materials to create a "hood" or "plateau" that will later be shaped into a specific hat style by a milliner. This classification is vital for the millinery industry, as it separates the imported semi-processed materials from the final retail products. The distinction between 650200 and 650100 (which covers felt hat-forms) is based entirely on the method of construction—plaiting versus felting. Under the General Rules of Interpretation, the essential character of the item as a semi-manufactured headgear component determines its placement here. If the item has been subjected to blocking (shaping over a form) or has a clearly defined, finished brim, it has progressed beyond the scope of 650200 and must be classified as a finished hat.
- Covers
- Plaited straw hat hoods
- Unblocked sisal hat shapes
- Hat shapes made of assembled synthetic strips
- Paper-strip hat plateaux
- Unfinished Panama hat bodies
- Also under 6502.00
- Ecuadorian Panama hat blanks (unblocked)
- Balinese woven hat forms
- Mexican palm hat bodies
- Vietnamese conical hat frames (untrimmed)
- Italian straw hat shapes
Codes often confused with 6502.00
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is with 650400, which covers finished hats made by plaiting. The difference lies in whether the hat has been "blocked" or "trimmed." Another error is confusing 650200 with 650100; the latter is strictly for felt products (non-woven), while 650200 is for plaited or strip-assembled products.
Top exporters and importers of HS 650200 (the code used for hat shapes), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 650200 (the code used for hat shapes) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 65% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 41% 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 650200, not only hat shapes.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $15M 65% of world exports
- 2 Ecuador $4.0M 17% of world exports
- 3 United States $1.4M 6.1% of world exports
World total: $23M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $11M 41% of world imports
- 2 Mexico $3.9M 14% of world imports
- 3 Italy $3.4M 12% of world imports
World total: $27M 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 codes for hat shapes
Brazil splits HS 6502.00 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 6502.00.10Fine-straw hat-shapes (manila, panama)
- 6502.00.90Other plaited or strip hat-shapes
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about hat shapes
What is the HS code for Hat shapes?
The HS code for Hat shapes is 650200 (Hat-shapes; plaited or made by assembling strips of any material, neither blocked to shape, nor with made brims, nor lined, nor trimmed). The HS code for plaited or strip-assembled hat shapes that are not yet blocked or trimmed is 650200.
How do I classify Hat shapes for customs?
Hat shapes is classified under HS code 650200 — Hat-shapes; plaited or made by assembling strips of any material, neither blocked to shape, nor with made brims, nor lined, nor trimmed. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What happens if the hat shape has a brim?
If the brim is "made" (finished/sewn), the product is classified under 650400. If it is just an unfinished edge of the shape, it remains in 650200.
Which countries are the top exporters of hat shapes (HS 650200)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 650200 (the code used for hat shapes) in UN Comtrade data were China ($15M, 65% of world exports), Ecuador ($4.0M) and the United States ($1.4M). World exports came to about $23M, 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 hat shapes (HS 650200)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 650200 (the code used for hat shapes) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($11M, 41% of world imports), Mexico ($3.9M) and Italy ($3.4M). World imports came to about $27M, 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 Hat shapes the same in all countries?
The base HS code 650200 for Hat shapes 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 hat shapes in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 650200 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for hat shapes depends on the product's details: 6502.00.10 (Fine-straw hat-shapes (manila, panama)), 6502.00.90 (Other plaited or strip hat-shapes).