Section XI · Textiles and textile articles

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

Chapter 59 of the Harmonized System has 11 four-digit headings, from 59.01 to 59.11. Each heading is split further into six-digit subheadings, then into national 8- and 10-digit commodity codes.

Headings in chapter 59

HeadingDescription
59.01Textile fabrics coated with gum or amylaceous substances, of a kind used for the outer covers of books or the like; tracing cloth; prepared painting canvas; buckram and similar stiffened textile fabrics of a kind used for hat foundations
59.02Tyre cord fabric of high-tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides, polyesters or viscose rayon
59.03Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics, other than those of heading 5902
59.04Linoleum, whether or not cut to shape; floor coverings consisting of a coating or covering applied on a textile backing, whether or not cut to shape
59.05Textile wall coverings
59.06Rubberised textile fabrics, other than those of heading 5902
59.07Textile fabrics otherwise impregnated, coated or covered; painted canvas being theatrical scenery, studio backcloths or the like
59.08Textile wicks, woven, plaited or knitted, for lamps, stoves, lighters, candles or the like; incandescent gas mantles and tubular knitted gas-mantle fabric therefor, whether or not impregnated
59.09Textile hosepiping and similar textile tubing, with or without lining, armour or accessories of other materials
59.10Transmission or conveyor belts or belting, of textile material, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics, or reinforced with metal or other material
59.11Textile products and articles, for technical uses, specified in note 8 to this chapter

Classifying goods in chapter 59

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 59 in the UK Trade Tariff, the EU TARIC and the US HTS.