HS Code 5208Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2

What HS code 5208 covers

Two tests decide if a cloth belongs here. Second, the cloth must weigh not more than 200 g/m2.

In plain words, these are light cotton fabrics that are mostly cotton. Think of thin shirting, sheeting and similar cloth. People who search for the cotton fabric HSN code are usually looking for this heading.

The tests are simple, but the codes below the heading are many. The next section shows how to narrow them down.

How is cotton fabric classified under HSN? Pick the right 5208 code

You reach a six-digit subheading in three steps. Do them in order.

Step 1 is the finish. Each finish owns a block of codes:

• 520811 to 520819: unbleached cotton fabric
• 520821 to 520829: bleached cotton fabric
• 520831 to 520839: dyed cotton fabric
• 520841 to 520849: fabric woven from yarns of different colours
• 520851 to 520859: printed cotton fabric

Choose the weave, then the weight

Step 2 is the weave. Each finish has a code for plain weave and a code for 3-thread or 4-thread twill, which includes cross twill. Any other weave goes to the code marked n.e.c., meaning not elsewhere classified.

Step 3 is the weight, and it matters for plain weave. The split falls at 100 g/m2. Take unbleached plain weave. If it is light, at or under that line, use 520811. If it is heavier but still within 200 g/m2, use 520812. Bleached plain weave follows the same split in 520821 and 520822.

Dyed cloth works the same way. A dyed plain weave that is very light is 520831. A heavier one, up to the 200 g/m2 limit, is 520832. For printed cloth, plain weave uses 520851 or 520852, and other printed weaves go to 520859.

Always read the exact wording of the six-digit code. It settles the case, not the short heading name. If you are unsure, try the HS code classifier.

Difference between HS 5208 and 5209, 5210 and 5211

Two things can push a cotton cloth out of 5208: its weight and its cotton share.

Weight comes first. A woven cloth that is mostly cotton but heavier than 200 g/m2 moves to 5209.

Now the cotton share. If the cloth has a lower cotton share and the cotton is mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, it is a blend. A light blend goes to 5210. A heavy blend goes to 5211. The weight line is the same 200 g/m2.

Woven cotton cloth that fits none of these groups goes to 5212, the heading for other woven fabrics of cotton. If you trade the thread instead of the cloth, look at 5205 for cotton yarn.

Who exports woven cotton fabrics? Find importers and suppliers

Knowing the code is the first step. The next step is finding the companies behind the trade. 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. Open the live records for this heading on EximDataX to see current parties and shipments.