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Chapter 55 Man-made staple fibres

16 headings · 110 six-digit codes · World Customs Organization Harmonized System

HS code 55 man-made staple fibres covers short factory-made fibres, plus the yarn, thread and woven cloth made from them. Use this page to find the right heading, then open it for its full code list.

Chapter 55 is one of the more finely subdivided chapters: 16 headings carry 110 six-digit codes between them, an average of 6.9 per heading. The deepest is 5516 (Woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres) with 20. The chapter sits in Section XI, Textiles and Textile Articles, alongside 13 other chapters.

Headings in this chapter

5501Synthetic filament tow550111 to 550190e.g. 550111 — Fibres; synthetic filament tow, of nylon or other polyamides, of aramids5502Artificial filament tow550210 to 550290e.g. 550210 — Fibres; artificial filament tow of cellulose acetate5503Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning550311 to 550390e.g. 550311 — Fibres; synthetic staple fibres, of aramids, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning5504Artificial staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning550410 to 550490e.g. 550410 — Fibres; artificial staple fibres, of viscose, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning5505Waste (including noils, yarn waste and garnetted stock), of man-made fibres550510 to 550520e.g. 550510 — Fibres; waste (including noils, yarn waste and garnetted stock), of synthetic fibres5506Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning550610 to 550690e.g. 550610 — Fibres; synthetic staple fibres, of nylon or other polyamides, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning5507Artificial staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinninge.g. 550700 — Fibres; artificial staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning5508Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale550810 to 550820e.g. 550810 — Sewing thread; of synthetic staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale5509Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail sale550911 to 550999e.g. 550911 — Yarn; (not sewing thread), single, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of nylon or other polyamides, not put up for retail sale5510Yarn (other than sewing thread) of artificial staple fibres, not put up for retail sale551011 to 551090e.g. 551011 — Yarn; (not sewing thread), single, of artificial staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of artificial staple fibres, not put up for retail sale5511Yarn (not sewing thread), of man-made staple fibres, put up for retail sale551110 to 551130e.g. 551110 — Yarn; (not sewing thread), of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres, put up for retail sale5512Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres551211 to 551299e.g. 551211 — Fabrics, woven; of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of polyester staple fibres, unbleached or bleached5513Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight not exceeding 170g/m2551311 to 551349e.g. 551311 — Fabrics, woven; plain weave, of polyester staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight not exceeding 170g/m2, unbleached or bleached5514Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight exceeding 170g/m2551411 to 551449e.g. 551411 — Fabrics, woven; plain weave, unbleached or bleached, containing less than 85% by weight of polyester staple fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, exceeding 170g/m25515Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, n.e.c. in chapter 55551511 to 551599e.g. 551511 — Fabrics, woven; of polyester staple fibres n.e.c. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibres5516Woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres551611 to 551694e.g. 551611 — Fabrics, woven; unbleached or bleached, containing 85% or more by weight of artificial staple fibres
Chapter 54All chaptersChapter 56

HS code 55 man-made staple fibres: what is covered

A staple fibre is a short fibre. Spinners twist short fibres together to make yarn. A filament is different, because it is one long, unbroken strand. This chapter is for the short kind, and for the tow that is cut into it.

Man-made means made in a factory, not grown or shorn. The chapter splits these fibres into two groups. Synthetic fibres are built from chemicals. They include polyester, nylon, acrylic, modacrylic, polypropylene and aramid. Artificial fibres start from natural cellulose and are changed by chemistry. Viscose and cellulose acetate are the main ones. Headings 5501, 5503 and 5506 are synthetic. Headings 5502, 5504 and 5507 are artificial.

The codes shown here are six-digit World Customs Organization codes. Many countries add more digits for their own national lines, so check your national tariff for the full number. Two examples: 550120 is polyester filament tow, and 550210 is cellulose acetate tow. Every heading page lists its own codes in full.

Tow, fibres, thread and yarn: headings 5501 to 5511

Start with the stage of the product. Tow is a thick rope of untwisted filaments, made to be cut into staple. Headings 5501 and 5502 hold it. Headings 5503 and 5504 are loose staple fibres that are not yet ready for spinning. Headings 5506 and 5507 are the same fibres after carding, combing or similar work. Heading 5505 is for waste, such as noils and yarn waste.

Next comes thread and yarn. Sewing thread has its own heading, 5508. Other yarn is sorted by fibre type and by how it is sold. Heading 5509 is synthetic yarn and heading 5510 is artificial yarn, both in bulk form.

Fibre share also matters. A pure-fibre line needs 85 parts or more in every hundred by weight. Anything with a lower share goes to a blend line, named after the other fibre in the mix, such as wool or cotton.

Woven fabrics and how to choose the right code

Headings 5512 to 5516 hold woven cloth. Heading 5512 is for fabric with a high synthetic share, 85 parts or more in every hundred. Headings 5513 and 5514 are for fabric with a lower share, mixed mainly with cotton. Weight splits the two: 5513 is the lighter group and 5514 the heavier, with the line drawn at 170 g/m2. Heading 5515 takes other synthetic blends, such as 551511, which is polyester mixed with viscose. Heading 5516 is for fabric of artificial staple fibres.

To pick a code, ask these questions in order:

  • Is the fibre synthetic or artificial?
  • Is the item tow, loose fibre, waste, thread, yarn or fabric?
  • For yarn, is it sold in retail packs or in bulk?
  • For fabric, does one fibre make up the large majority by weight?
  • For cotton blends, is the cloth heavier or lighter than 170 g/m2?
  • Is the fabric unbleached, dyed, woven from dyed yarns or printed?
  • Still unsure? Try the HS code classifier.

Related chapters in Section XI textiles

Goods that are mostly cotton belong in chapter 52. Man-made filaments, other than tow, stay in chapter 54. If your product does not fit here, check these neighbours before you settle on a code.

HS code 55 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. Open a heading page above to start with a narrower product.

Related

Other chapters in Section XI

Textiles and Textile Articles covers chapters 50–63.

These codes carry real shipments.

EximDataX shows the live import–export records filed under Chapter 55: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.

See live data for Chapter 55
Straight answers

HS Chapter 55: common questions

What is HS code 55?

It is the two-digit chapter of the Harmonized System for staple fibres made in factories. It also covers the tow, waste, thread, yarn and cloth made from them.

What is the HS code for polyester staple fibre?

Use 550320 if the fibre is not carded, combed or otherwise prepared for spinning. Use 550620 if it has been through that work.

What is the HS code for viscose staple fibre?

Raw viscose staple fibre goes under 550410. After carding or combing, it moves to heading 5507. Woven fabric made of it is in heading 5516.

What is the difference between Chapter 54 and Chapter 55?

Chapter 54 is for long man-made filaments. Filament tow is the bridge, and it is placed in 5501 and 5502.

Which HS code is used for polyester-cotton blended fabric?

Look at headings 5513 and 5514 when polyester is the smaller share and cotton is the main partner. The cloth weight decides which one fits.

What is the HS code for polyester spun yarn?

Single yarn is 550921 and multiple or cabled yarn is 550922. Polyester mixed with cotton is 550953. Yarn packed for shops goes to heading 5511.

Is sewing thread of man-made staple fibres in Chapter 55?

Yes, heading 5508 covers it, in retail packs or not. Use 550810 for synthetic fibres and 550820 for artificial ones.

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