HS Code 5203Cotton, carded or combed
1 six-digit code · Heading 3 of 12 in Chapter 52 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
This page shows where the heading sits, how to tell it from nearby headings and where to find trade records.
Heading 5203does not subdivide further in the WCO nomenclature: goods answering to “Cotton, carded or combed” classify at the single six-digit code 520300. The heading is number 3 of 12 in Chapter 52, Cotton, which runs to 124 six-digit codes in all.
Six-digit codes under heading 5203
| HS Code | Import–export description |
|---|---|
| 520300 | Cotton; carded or combed |
What HS code 5203 covers
Carded cotton and combed cotton are raw cotton fibres that a machine has cleaned and straightened. Carding untangles the fibres. Combing goes a step further and removes the short ones. Both products belong in this heading. In India the same number is often called HSN code 5203.
The Harmonized System is a customs list kept by the World Customs Organization. It groups goods in layers, so a code tells you where a product sits. Here the path runs from Section XI, the textiles section, down to Chapter 52 for cotton, then to heading 5203.
- Chapter 52: Cotton
- Heading 5203: Cotton, carded or combed
- Code 520300: Cotton; carded or combed
HS code 520300: reading the digits
The first two digits, 52, name the chapter. The last two digits finish the six-digit code. Here they are 00, because the heading has nothing to split.
So 520300 is the only code you can pick for this customs classification. Some countries add more digits after it for local use. Those extra digits sit on top of 520300 and do not replace it.
How 5203 differs from other cotton headings
Most mistakes happen between neighbouring headings. Ask two questions: what is the material, and what has been done to it?
Heading 5201 is cotton before carding or combing. Once that same cotton is carded or combed, it moves to 5203. That is the main gap between the two.
Cotton waste has its own place. Yarn waste and garnetted stock go under 5202, not here.
Spinning ends the story for this heading. Sewing thread goes under 5204. Other cotton yarn goes to 5205, 5206 or 5207, based on how much of it is cotton and whether it is packed for retail. If you still cannot decide, describe the goods to the HS code classifier.
Other headings in Chapter 52 Cotton
The chapter follows the life of cotton. It starts with raw fibre and waste, moves through carded fibre and thread to yarn, and ends with woven cloth. Heading 5203 sits early in that line.
Open a neighbouring page to compare its description and code. Woven fabrics fill 5208 to 5212, so a fabric buyer will want those pages, while a fibre buyer will stay close to 5201 to 5203.
Import and export data for heading 5203: buyers and suppliers
Once you have the right code, you can look for partners. EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.
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.
To see how the records are laid out, open the import data and export data pages. The buyer data and supplier data pages show the same records from the side of each trading party.
Related
- Chapter 52 Cotton HS codes
- HS 5201 cotton, not carded or combed
- HS 5202 cotton waste
- HS 5204 cotton sewing thread
- HS 5205 cotton yarn, high cotton share
- HS 5206 cotton yarn, lower cotton share
- All HS code chapters
- Import data
- Export data
- Cotton buyer data
- Cotton supplier data
- HS code classifier
- Book a free demo
Nearby headings in Chapter 52
- 5201Cotton; not carded or combed1 code
- 5202Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock)3 codes
- 5204Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale3 codes
- 5205Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85% or more by weight of…24 codes
- 5206Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing less than 85% by weight of…20 codes
- 5207Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), put up for retail sale2 codes
- 5208Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing…19 codes
- 5209Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing…16 codes
- 5210Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed…11 codes
- 5211Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed…14 codes
- 5212Other woven fabrics of cotton, n.e.c. in chapter 5210 codes
Who ships under 5203?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the code beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section XI: Textiles and Textile Articles, chapters 50–63.
HS Code 5203: common questions
What is HS code 5203?
It names cotton that has been carded or combed.
Is cotton waste classified under 5203?
No.
What is the difference between HS 5201 and 5203?
The difference is the processing step. Raw cotton that has not been carded or combed goes under 5201, and the same fibre after that work goes under 5203.
Is the HS code for carded cotton the same across countries?
The first six digits come from the Harmonized System, so countries that use it share 520300. Many countries add extra digits of their own after those six.
How can I confirm the correct HS code for combed cotton?
Read the heading text and compare it with 5201 and 5202. You can also describe your goods to the HS code classifier.
Does spun cotton yarn fall under 5203?
No. Spun cotton is yarn and belongs to headings such as 5205 or 5206. Heading 5203 is for fibre that has not been spun.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
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