Product classification
HS code for Painting canvas: 5901.90
Textile fabrics, coated with gum or amylaceous substances, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations, (excluding book covers).
Classification of painting canvas under HS 5901.90
Painting canvas that has been prepared for use by artists is classified under HS code 5901.90. This classification is part of Chapter 59, which deals with impregnated, coated, or covered textile fabrics. Heading 5901 specifically covers textile fabrics coated with gum or amylaceous substances, used for book covers, tracing cloth, and prepared painting canvas. The sub-heading 5901.90 is the residual category that captures prepared painting canvas. The key to this classification is the "preparation" of the fabric. Raw, untreated canvas is classified as a simple textile under Chapter 52 (cotton) or Chapter 53 (flax/linen). However, once the fabric has been primed with gesso, oil, or other substances to make it suitable for receiving paint, it undergoes a transformation that moves it into 5901. This preparation ensures the paint does not soak directly into the fibers, which is the defining characteristic of an artist's canvas. This code applies to both rolls of primed canvas and canvases that have been stretched over wooden frames, provided they are not yet painted.
- Covers
- Gesso-primed artist canvas rolls
- Stretched canvases for oil or acrylic painting
- Primed linen fabrics for artists
- Coated cotton canvas for painting
- Prepared textile panels for art students
- Also under 5901.90
- Winsor & Newton prepared canvas
- Strathmore tracing cloth
- J.J. Hat Center buckram
- Pellon stiff interfacing
- Fredrix artist canvas
Codes often confused with 5901.90
Common mistake. A common error is classifying prepared canvas under 5907.00, which is for canvas that has already been painted (scenery). Another frequent mistake is using the raw textile codes in Chapter 52 or 53; these are incorrect because the priming/coating process changes the HS heading. Finally, some importers use 6307.90 (other made-up articles), but 5901.90 is more specific for the material itself.
Top exporters and importers of HS 590190 (the code used for painting canvas), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 590190 (the code used for painting canvas) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 62% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 21% 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 590190, not only painting canvas.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $289M 62% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$47M 10% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Cambodia* ~$26M 5.7% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $465M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $85M 21% of world imports
- 2 Germany $26M 6.6% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$19M 4.8% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $398M 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 painting canvas
Brazil classifies painting canvas under NCM 5901.90.00: HS 5901.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about painting canvas
What is the HS code for Painting canvas?
The HS code for Painting canvas is 590190 (Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations, (excluding book covers)). The HS code for prepared painting canvas (primed but unpainted) is 5901.90.
How do I classify Painting canvas for customs?
Painting canvas is classified under HS code 590190 — Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations, (excluding book covers). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is unprimed canvas classified under this code?
No, unprimed or raw canvas is classified according to its material composition, typically under Chapter 52 for cotton or Chapter 53 for flax and linen.
Which countries are the top exporters of painting canvas (HS 590190)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 590190 (the code used for painting canvas) in UN Comtrade data were China ($289M, 62% of world exports), Vietnam (about $47M) and Cambodia (about $26M). World exports came to about $465M, 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 painting canvas (HS 590190)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 590190 (the code used for painting canvas) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($85M, 21% of world imports), Germany ($26M) and Vietnam (about $19M). World imports came to about $398M, 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 Painting canvas the same in all countries?
The base HS code 590190 for Painting canvas 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 painting canvas in Brazil?
In Brazil, painting canvas (HS 590190) is classified under NCM 5901.90.00.