Chapter 59 Textile fabrics; impregnated, coated, covered or laminated; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use

What HS Code 59 covers

It holds cloth that has been given a second layer or a special treatment. The layer may be plastic, rubber, gum or paint. It also holds textile parts built for factories and machines, often called technical textiles. Some traders search for this as HSN code chapter 59. It is the same chapter.

It helps to think of the chapter as five groups:

• Gum-coated and stiffened cloth, such as book-cover cloth, tracing cloth and buckram (5901)
• Tyre cord fabric made from high tenacity yarn (5902)
• Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics: PVC coated fabric, polyurethane (PU) coated fabric, rubberised textile fabrics and painted canvas (5903, 5906, 5907)
• Linoleum, textile-backed floor coverings and textile wall coverings (5904, 5905)
• Textile articles for industrial use: wicks, hose, belts and technical fabrics (5908 to 5911)

HS code 59 textile fabrics: how to choose the right heading

Headings 5903, 5906 and 5907 look alike. The deciding point is what the coating is made of.

Plastics go in 5903. PVC coated fabric is 590310. Polyurethane coated fabric is 590320. Fabric with any other plastic is 590390. Rubber goes in 5906. That heading covers rubberised textile fabrics, including adhesive tape not wider than 20cm. Anything else that is impregnated, coated or covered goes in 5907. Painted canvas for theatre scenery and studio back-cloths is in that heading.

Tyre cord is the exception. Tyre cord fabric made of high tenacity yarn belongs in 5902, and headings 5903 and 5906 both exclude it. The three subheadings split by yarn: 590210 for nylon or other polyamides, 590220 for polyester and 590290 for viscose rayon.

Look at the base fabric first. Then look at the coating. If you are still unsure, run the product through the HS code classifier.

Industrial textile articles: hose, belting and paper-machine felts

Heading 5909 covers textile hose piping and similar textile tubing. It may have a lining, armour or other fittings. Its only code is 591000.

Heading 5911 is the home of other technical fabrics, as set out in note 7 to the chapter. Paper-making felts and fabrics are endless or fitted with linking devices. They go in 591131 if they weigh under 650g/m2 and in 591132 if they weigh 650g/m2 or more. Bolting cloth is 591120. Straining cloth for oil presses is also in this heading, and it can be made of human hair.

Floor coverings, wall coverings and wicks

Heading 5904 covers linoleum, which is 590410. It also covers floor coverings made by putting a coating on a textile backing. Heading 5905 covers textile wall coverings under 590500. Gas mantles are there too.

Do not confuse these with carpets. Felt and nonwovens are in Chapter 56. The other textile chapters in Section XI are chapters 50 to 55 and 61 to 63.

HS code 59 import 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. Use the import data and export data pages for trade flows. Use buyer data and supplier data to find companies that trade coated fabric, belting or technical textiles.