Section XI · Textiles and textile articles
Chapter 56: Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof
Chapter 56 of the Harmonized System has 9 four-digit headings, from 56.01 to 56.09. Each heading is split further into six-digit subheadings, then into national 8- and 10-digit commodity codes.
Headings in chapter 56
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 56.01 | Wadding of textile materials and articles thereof; textile fibres, not exceeding 5 mm in length (flock), textile dust and mill neps |
| 56.02 | Felt, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated |
| 56.03 | Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated |
| 56.04 | Rubber thread and cord, textile covered; textile yarn, and strip and the like of heading 5404 or 5405, impregnated, coated, covered or sheathed with rubber or plastics |
| 56.05 | Metallised yarn, whether or not gimped, being textile yarn, or strip or the like of heading 5404 or 5405, combined with metal in the form of thread, strip or powder or covered with metal |
| 56.06 | Gimped yarn, and strip and the like of heading 5404 or 5405, gimped (other than those of heading 5605 and gimped horsehair yarn); chenille yarn (including flock chenille yarn); loop wale-yarn |
| 56.07 | Twine, cordage, ropes and cables, whether or not plaited or braided and whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or sheathed with rubber or plastics |
| 56.08 | Knotted netting of twine, cordage or rope; made-up fishing nets and other made-up nets, of textile materials |
| 56.09 | Articles of yarn, strip or the like of heading 5404 or 5405, twine, cordage, rope or cables, not elsewhere specified or included |
Classifying goods in chapter 56
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 56 in the UK Trade Tariff, the EU TARIC and the US HTS.