Product classification

HS code for Tracing cloth: 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 tracing cloth under HS 5901.90

Tracing cloth is classified under HS code 5901.90 because it consists of a textile fabric that has been specifically treated to achieve transparency and a surface suitable for ink or pencil. Chapter 59 of the Harmonized System covers impregnated, coated, covered, or laminated textile fabrics. Heading 5901 specifically addresses textile fabrics coated with gum or amylaceous substances, which are used for book covers, hat foundations, or as tracing cloth. The classification is based on the fact that the base material is a woven textile, which distinguishes it from paper-based tracing products. The coating process is essential for its technical application in drafting and engineering, providing the necessary durability and transparency that standard fabrics lack. To fall under 5901.90, the fabric must be prepared in a way that it remains a textile product while gaining the functional properties of a tracing medium.

Covers
  • Prepared tracing cloth for architects
  • Engineering drafting cloth
  • Stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations (buckram)
  • Coated fabrics for bookbinding
  • Prepared painting canvas
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. Tracing cloth is most often confused with tracing paper, which is classified under HS code 4806.30. The primary difference is the base material: 5901.90 is textile-based, while 4806.30 is cellulose-based. Another common misclassification occurs with HS code 5903, which covers textile fabrics laminated or coated with plastics. If the coating on the tracing cloth is a plastic layer (like PVC) rather than a gum or starch-based substance, it may be moved to 5903, depending on the visibility and nature of the coating.

4806.30Paper; tracing papers, in rolls or sheets59.03Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics, other than those of heading no. 5902

Top exporters and importers of HS 590190 (the code used for tracing cloth), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 590190 (the code used for tracing cloth) 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 tracing cloth.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $289M
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$47M
  3. 3 Cambodia* ~$26M

World total: $465M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $85M
  2. 2 Germany $26M
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$19M

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 tracing cloth

Brazil classifies tracing cloth 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 tracing cloth

What is the HS code for Tracing cloth?

The HS code for Tracing cloth 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 tracing cloth is 5901.90, which falls under the category of textile fabrics coated with gum or amylaceous substances.

How do I classify Tracing cloth for customs?

Tracing cloth 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.

How does tracing cloth differ from painting canvas in classification?

While both can fall under 5901, prepared painting canvas is specifically mentioned in the heading, but tracing cloth is distinguished by its transparency and specific use in technical drawing.

Which countries are the top exporters of tracing cloth (HS 590190)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 590190 (the code used for tracing cloth) 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 tracing cloth (HS 590190)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 590190 (the code used for tracing cloth) 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 Tracing cloth the same in all countries?

The base HS code 590190 for Tracing cloth 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 tracing cloth in Brazil?

In Brazil, tracing cloth (HS 590190) is classified under NCM 5901.90.00.