HS Code 5901Textile fabrics, gum or amylaceous substance coated, used for outer book covers and like; tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas; buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics used for hat foundation
2 six-digit codes · Heading 1 of 11 in Chapter 59 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
Read on to see which goods fit, how to choose the right six-digit code, and where to look for shipment records.
Heading 5901 splits exactly two ways. Goods answering to “Textile fabrics, gum or amylaceous substance coated, used for outer book covers and like; tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas; buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics used for hat foundation” classify either at 590110 or at 590190, and the wording in the table below is the whole of what separates them. The heading is number 1 of 11 in Chapter 59, Textile fabrics; impregnated, coated, covered or laminated; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use, which runs to 24 six-digit codes in all.
Six-digit codes under heading 5901
| HS Code | Import–export description |
|---|---|
| 590110 | Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, of a kind used for the outer covers of books or the like |
| 590190 | Textile fabrics; coated with gum or amylaceous substances, tracing cloth, prepared painting canvas, buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics for hat foundations, (excluding book covers) |
What HS code 5901 covers
Every product in this heading starts as a textile fabric. A maker then coats the cloth with gum or an amylaceous substance. Amylaceous simply means starchy. The coating makes the cloth stiff, smooth or ready to take ink and paint.
Typical goods are book cloth for bookbinding, tracing cloth for technical drawings, prepared painting canvas, and buckram. Buckram is a stiffened fabric that gives a hat its shape.
Think of the code as a path. It leads to Chapter 59, which handles coated and industrial fabrics. Chapter 59 leads to heading 5901, and the heading ends in one of two codes, 590110 or 590190.
590110 vs 590190: which code fits your fabric?
The coating is the same in both codes. What differs is the end use. Ask one question first: is this cloth made for the outside of a book?
If yes, use 590110. If no, and the cloth is a tracing, painting or hat-stiffening fabric, use 590190.
Countries share the first six digits of an HS code. Many add more digits for their own tariff. So a record for India or a China export may show a longer number that starts with 5901. The extra digits are national, and they can change from one country to the next.
- Check this code for bookbinding coated fabric.
- Book covers are excluded.
How 5901 differs from other Chapter 59 headings
Several headings in this chapter deal with coated cloth. The coating material is what sets them apart.
If the coating is plastic, look at heading 5903. If the cloth is rubberised, look at heading 5906. If it is otherwise impregnated, coated or covered, look at heading 5907. That last heading also holds painted canvas made as theatrical scenery and studio back-cloths.
Painting canvas can cause doubt. Canvas that is only prepared for painting stays with 5901. Canvas that is already painted as scenery moves to 5907.
If you are unsure, the HS code classifier can help you test a product description. You can also browse the full chapter and all other HS code chapters to compare neighbours.
HS 5901 import and export data for buyers and suppliers
Here is what you get when you search this heading. 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. Try 5901, or go straight to 590110 or 590190 if you already know your fabric. Live records show the real buyers and suppliers of buckram and tracing cloth.
Nearby headings in Chapter 59
- 5902Textile fabrics; tyrecord of high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides…3 codes
- 5903Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics…3 codes
- 5904Linoleum, whether or not cut to shape; floor coverings consisting of a…2 codes
- 5905Textile wall coverings1 code
- 5906Textile fabrics, rubberised; other than those of heading no. 59023 codes
- 5907Textile fabrics; otherwise impregnated, coated or covered; painted canvas…1 code
- 5908Textile wicks, woven, plaited or knitted; for lamps, stoves, lighters…1 code
- 5909Textile hose piping and similar textile tubing; with or without lining…1 code
- 5910Textiles; transmission or conveyor belts or belting, of textile material…1 code
- 5911Textile products and articles for technical uses; specified in note 7 to this…6 codes
Who ships under 5901?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the 2 codes beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section XI: Textiles and Textile Articles, chapters 50–63.
HS Code 5901: common questions
What is HS code 5901?
Book cloth, tracing cloth, painting canvas and buckram all belong here.
What is the HS code for buckram?
Buckram goes under 590190, together with other stiffened fabrics for hat foundations.
What is the HS code for bookbinding cloth?
Cloth made for outer book covers belongs to 590110.
Is the HS code for tracing cloth the same across countries?
The first six digits are shared. Duty rates and extra digits are set by each country, so check the national tariff line and the live records before you quote a rate.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
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