Product classification
HS code for Retail silk yarn: 5006.00
Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste, put up for retail sale, and silk-worm gut.
Classification of retail silk yarn under HS 5006.00
Retail silk yarn is classified under HS code 5006.00 because it encompasses silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste that has been specifically prepared and packaged for direct sale to consumers. According to the Section XI legal notes of the Harmonized System, yarn is considered "put up for retail sale" only if it meets strict weight and packaging criteria. For silk and silk waste, the weight of the yarn, including any support such as a reel or card, must not exceed 125 grams. This classification also uniquely includes silk-worm gut, which is a specialized material used in various applications. The primary determinant for this code is the combination of the material (silk or silk waste) and its presentation for the end-user market rather than industrial processing. This ensures that high-value silk products intended for domestic crafts like embroidery or hand-weaving are correctly identified for customs purposes and duty application.
- Covers
- Pure silk embroidery thread packaged for retail
- Spun silk yarn in 50g balls
- Noil silk yarn for hand-knitting
- Silk-worm gut in retail lengths
- Yarn from silk waste put up for domestic use
- Also under 5006.00
- DMC silk embroidery floss
- Habu Textiles silk yarn
- Treenway Silks retail yarn
- Pearsall's Gossamer silk thread
- Cortland silk-worm gut
Codes often confused with 5006.00
Common mistake. This code is often confused with 5004.00 (silk yarn not for retail) or 5005.00 (yarn from silk waste not for retail). The distinction lies entirely in the packaging and weight. If the yarn is on a large industrial cone weighing 1kg, it cannot be classified under 5006.00. It is also sometimes confused with 5401.10 (sewing thread of man-made filaments), but silk is a natural protein fiber and must remain in Chapter 50.
Top exporters and importers of HS 500600 (the code used for retail silk yarn), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 500600 (the code used for retail silk yarn) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 13% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Nigeria, with 31% 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 500600, not only retail silk yarn.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $1.0M 13% of world exports
- 2 India $990K 13% of world exports
- 3 Germany $817K 11% of world exports
World total: $7.6M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Nigeria $4.9M 31% of world imports
- 2 United States $3.0M 19% of world imports
- 3 India $1.0M 6.5% of world imports
World total: $16M 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 retail silk yarn
Brazil classifies retail silk yarn under NCM 5006.00.00: HS 5006.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about retail silk yarn
What is the HS code for Retail silk yarn?
The HS code for Retail silk yarn is 500600 (Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste; put up for retail sale, and silk-worm gut). The HS code for retail silk yarn, including yarn spun from silk waste and silk-worm gut, is 5006.00.
How do I classify Retail silk yarn for customs?
Retail silk yarn is classified under HS code 500600 — Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste; put up for retail sale, and silk-worm gut. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What defines "put up for retail sale" for silk?
For silk yarn to be classified as "put up for retail sale," it must be in a form such as a ball or on a support and must not exceed a weight of 125 grams per unit.
Which countries are the top exporters of retail silk yarn (HS 500600)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 500600 (the code used for retail silk yarn) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($1.0M, 13% of world exports), India ($990K) and Germany ($817K). World exports came to about $7.6M, 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 retail silk yarn (HS 500600)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 500600 (the code used for retail silk yarn) in UN Comtrade data were Nigeria ($4.9M, 31% of world imports), the United States ($3.0M) and India ($1.0M). World imports came to about $16M, 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 Retail silk yarn the same in all countries?
The base HS code 500600 for Retail silk yarn 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 retail silk yarn in Brazil?
In Brazil, retail silk yarn (HS 500600) is classified under NCM 5006.00.00.