Product classification
HS code for Raw cotton: 5201.00
Cotton, not carded or combed.
Classification of raw cotton under HS 5201.00
Raw cotton is classified under HS code 5201.00. This code is the fundamental starting point for the cotton textile chapter and covers cotton that has not been carded or combed. The classification includes cotton in various states of initial harvest and cleaning. This includes "seed cotton" (cotton as harvested with seeds still attached) and "ginned cotton" (where the fibers have been separated from the seeds). The essential characteristic for 5201.00 is that the fibers remain in a random, unaligned mass. Once the cotton is processed through carding or combing machinery to align the fibers into slivers or laps, it must be classified under 5203.00. Raw cotton is a major global commodity, and this specific code is used to track the trade of the raw fiber before it enters the spinning process. It may be bleached or dyed in the mass, but as long as it has not been carded, it remains under 5201.00. The classification is strictly based on the mechanical state of the fiber rather than its chemical treatment.
- Covers
- Ginned cotton (lint)
- Unginned cotton (seed cotton)
- Cotton in bales (not carded)
- Bleached raw cotton
- Dyed raw cotton (in the mass)
- Also under 5201.00
- US Upland cotton bales
- Indian Shankar-6 cotton
- Brazilian Acala cotton
- Australian cotton lint
- West African cotton
Codes often confused with 5201.00
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is with HS code 5203.00, which is for cotton that has been carded or combed. Another frequent error involves HS code 5202, which covers cotton waste, including yarn waste and garnetted stock. Cotton linters are also sometimes confused with this code but should be checked against 1404.20.
Top exporters and importers of HS 520100 (the code used for raw cotton), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 520100 (the code used for raw cotton) in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 17% of world imports. Bangladesh 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 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 520100, not only raw cotton.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Brazil $4.9B 32% of world exports
- 2 United States $4.8B 32% of world exports
- 3 Australia $2.2B 15% of world exports
World total: $15.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Vietnam* ~$2.5B 17% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 Bangladesh* ~$2.1B 14% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 China $1.9B 13% of world imports
Bangladesh 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 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
World total: $14.5B 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 codes for raw cotton
Brazil splits HS 5201.00 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 5201.00.10Cotton not ginned, not carded or combed
- 5201.00.20Cotton merely ginned, not carded or combed
- 5201.00.90Other cotton, not carded or combed
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about raw cotton
What is the HS code for Raw cotton?
The HS code for Raw cotton is 520100 (Cotton; not carded or combed). The HS code for cotton that has not been carded or combed is 5201.00.
How do I classify Raw cotton for customs?
Raw cotton is classified under HS code 520100 — Cotton; not carded or combed. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include cotton that has been cleaned?
Yes, as long as the cleaning process does not involve carding or combing the fibers into an aligned state, it remains under 5201.00.
Which countries are the top exporters of raw cotton (HS 520100)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 520100 (the code used for raw cotton) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($4.9B, 32% of world exports), the United States ($4.8B) and Australia ($2.2B). World exports came to about $15.2B, 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 raw cotton (HS 520100)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 520100 (the code used for raw cotton) in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $2.5B, 17% of world imports), Bangladesh (about $2.1B) and China ($1.9B). World imports came to about $14.5B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Bangladesh 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 19% of its imports here ($486M, CEPII BACI), so it may rank higher.
Is the HS code for Raw cotton the same in all countries?
The base HS code 520100 for Raw cotton 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 raw cotton in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 520100 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for raw cotton depends on the product's details: 5201.00.10 (Cotton not ginned, not carded or combed), 5201.00.20 (Cotton merely ginned, not carded or combed), 5201.00.90 (Other cotton, not carded or combed).