Section XI · Textiles and textile articles
Chapter 55: Man-made staple fibres
Chapter 55 of the Harmonized System has 16 four-digit headings, from 55.01 to 55.16. Each heading is split further into six-digit subheadings, then into national 8- and 10-digit commodity codes.
Headings in chapter 55
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 55.01 | Synthetic filament tow |
| 55.02 | Artificial filament tow |
| 55.03 | Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning |
| 55.04 | Artificial staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning |
| 55.05 | Waste (including noils, yarn waste and garnetted stock) of man-made fibres |
| 55.06 | Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning |
| 55.07 | Artificial staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning |
| 55.08 | Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale |
| 55.09 | Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail sale |
| 55.10 | Yarn (other than sewing thread) of artificial staple fibres, not put up for retail sale |
| 55.11 | Yarn (other than sewing thread) of man-made staple fibres, put up for retail sale |
| 55.12 | Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres |
| 55.13 | Woven 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 170 g/m2 |
| 55.14 | Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight exceeding 170 g/m2 |
| 55.15 | Other woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres |
| 55.16 | Woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres |
Classifying goods in chapter 55
Start with the chapter and section notes: they are legally binding and often decide what is included or excluded. Then choose the heading whose wording best describes your product (GRI 1), and work down to the six-digit subheading before choosing the national commodity code.
The six-digit code is shared internationally. The UK and EU add digits for their own tariffs and statistics, and the US uses its own 10-digit HTS lines, so always confirm the final code in the tariff of the country you are importing into.
Official sources
Check chapter 55 in the UK Trade Tariff, the EU TARIC and the US HTS.