Chapter 52 Cotton

What HS code 52 covers

Chapter 52 cotton follows the fibre from field to cloth. Some people search for it as HSN code chapter 52. The headings run in four steps.

Each step has its own heading page. Open the one that matches your product to see every six-digit code and its full wording. This page only gives a few examples.

• Fibre and waste: 5201 (not carded or combed), 5202 (waste) and 5203 (carded or combed cotton).
• Sewing thread: 5204.
• Woven fabrics of cotton: 5208, 5209, 5210, 5211 and 5212.

How to choose the right cotton HS code

Most mistakes happen at a few splits. Check them in this order.

First, look at the form of the goods. Raw cotton that is not carded or combed goes to 5201, for example 520100. Once it is carded or combed, it moves to 5203. Cotton waste has its own heading, 5202. It covers yarn waste (520210) and garnetted stock (520291).

Next, decide if it is thread or yarn. Sewing thread sits in 5204, with codes such as 520411 and 520420. Yarn that is not sewing thread sits in 5205, 5206 or 5207. Yarn sold in retail packs goes to 5207.

Then check the cotton content. The line is 85 parts of cotton in every 100 by weight. Yarn at or above that line is 5205. Yarn below it is 5206. The same line splits woven fabrics. Headings 5208 and 5209 are at or above it. Headings 5210 and 5211 are below it.

Inside the yarn headings, three more points set the six-digit code. Is the yarn single or multiple? Are the fibres combed or uncombed? How fine is it? Fineness is shown as decitex and as metric number. A lower decitex means a finer yarn. A higher metric number also means a finer yarn.

For fabric, weight is the next split. Heading 5208 is for cloth of 200 g/m2 or less. Heading 5209 is for heavier cloth.

Blends need care. Cotton cloth below the content line, with man-made fibres as the main or only other part, goes to 5210 (lighter) or 5211 (heavier). A cotton and polyester mix is a common case. Other woven cotton that fits none of the earlier headings falls into 5212. If you are still unsure, try the HS code classifier.

Cotton denim and twill codes

Denim has its own six-digit codes. They sit in the heavy cloth headings.

For fabric at or above the cotton line, woven from yarns of different colours, the denim code is 520942. For blends below the line, it is 521142.

Twill has its own codes too. Look for 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill. Examples are 520813 for unbleached cloth up to 200 g/m2 and 520912 for unbleached cloth over that weight.

HS code 52 cotton import and export data

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries.

Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.

You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo. Pick your heading from the guide above, then search the records for that code. To find buyers of cotton yarn by HS code, start with the yarn heading that fits your goods.

Related textile chapters

Cotton is only one fibre in the textile section. Special yarns, twine and rope are in chapter 56. Knitted fabric is in chapter 60. Finished clothing is in chapters 61 and 62. Check these if your goods are not woven cotton.