Product classification
HS code for Human hair: 0501.00
Animal products, hair, human, unworked, whether or not washed or scoured, and waste of human hair.
Classification of human hair under HS 0501.00
Human hair is classified under HS code 0501.00 as it is considered a raw product of animal origin. This code is strictly reserved for hair that is unworked, meaning it has not been subject to processes like thinning, bleaching, or being put up for wig making. The classification includes hair that has been washed or scoured to remove impurities, as well as waste human hair. Under the Harmonized System, Chapter 5 encompasses various animal products not elsewhere specified, and human hair in its primary, unprocessed state fits this criteria. The key factor for this classification is the lack of further manufacture. If the hair is simply collected, cleaned, and sorted by length without being aligned in a way that prepares it for immediate use in the hairpiece industry, it remains in 0501.00. This code is vital for tracking the trade of raw materials used in the beauty and medical industries, ensuring that biological materials are monitored for health and safety regulations during international transit.
- Covers
- Unworked human hair
- Washed or scoured human hair
- Waste of human hair (including hair clippings)
- Raw hair collected for industrial or commercial use
- Also under 0501.00
- Indian Temple Hair
- Brazilian Virgin Hair
- Peruvian Remy Hair
- Collected Salon Hair Waste
- Washed Human Hair for Wigs
Codes often confused with 0501.00
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for human hair is HS code 6703.00. This code is used for human hair that has been dressed, thinned, bleached, or otherwise worked for use in making wigs or similar articles. Additionally, finished wigs and hairpieces are classified under 6704. The distinction is based on the level of preparation; if the hair has been arranged so that the root ends and tip ends are aligned (turned hair), it must be moved from 0501.00 to 6703.00.
Top exporters and importers of HS 050100 (the code used for human hair), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 050100 (the code used for human hair) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 96% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Myanmar, with 54% 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 050100, not only human hair.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $269M 96% of world exports
- 2 Pakistan $6.2M 2.2% of world exports
- 3 United States $1.6M 0.6% of world exports
World total: $281M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Myanmar $26M 54% of world imports
- 2 Austria $8.8M 18% of world imports
- 3 Bangladesh* ~$4.3M 9.0% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $48M 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 human hair
Brazil classifies human hair under NCM 0501.00.00: HS 0501.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about human hair
What is the HS code for Human hair?
The HS code for Human hair is 050100 (Animal products; hair, human, unworked, whether or not washed or scoured, and waste of human hair). The HS code for unworked human hair is 0501.00, which includes hair that has been washed or scoured but not further processed.
How do I classify Human hair for customs?
Human hair is classified under HS code 050100 — Animal products; hair, human, unworked, whether or not washed or scoured, and waste of human hair. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include hair used for wigs?
Only if the hair is raw and unworked. If the hair has been prepared, thinned, or aligned for wig making, it should be classified under HS code 6703.00.
Which countries are the top exporters of human hair (HS 050100)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 050100 (the code used for human hair) in UN Comtrade data were India ($269M, 96% of world exports), Pakistan ($6.2M) and the United States ($1.6M). World exports came to about $281M, 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 human hair (HS 050100)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 050100 (the code used for human hair) in UN Comtrade data were Myanmar ($26M, 54% of world imports), Austria ($8.8M) and Bangladesh (about $4.3M). World imports came to about $48M, 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 Human hair the same in all countries?
The base HS code 050100 for Human hair 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 human hair in Brazil?
In Brazil, human hair (HS 050100) is classified under NCM 0501.00.00.