Chapter · Section XI
Chapter 52: Cotton
- 0%–8%UK
- 0%–8%EU
- 10%–90%Türkiye
- 0%–16.5%USA
- US$51.4bnWorld trade in 2024
12 headings make up chapter 52, part of section XI, textiles and textile articles.
In the UK Global Tariff, chapter 52 covers 226 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 8%. 79 of them are duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides chapter 52 into 149 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 8% (average 6.4%). 6 of them are duty-free.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, chapter 52 covers 202 tariff lines and the statutory rate is between 10% and 90%.
World trade in chapter 52 goods reached US$51.4bn in 2024, down 0.8% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 19.7% of the total, ahead of India.
China imported the most (US$8.4bn).
Duty rates compared
UK Free – 8% Third-country duty 226 tariff lines · average 5.2% 
EU Free – 8% Third-country duty 149 tariff lines · average 6.4% 
Türkiye 10% – 90% Statutory rate (Law 474) 202 tariff lines · average 57.5% 
USA Free – 16.5% General (MFN) 233 tariff lines · average 8.6% · 11× specific or compound duty The Turkish schedule prints the statutory rate set under Customs Law 474. The rate applied at import is laid down in the Import Regime Decision and can be lower, or different by country of origin.
Headings 12
- 5201Cotton, not carded or combed
- 5202Cotton waste (including yarn waste and garnetted stock)
- 5203Cotton, carded or combed
- 5204Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale
- 5205Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85 % or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale
- 5206Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing less than 85 % by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale
- 5207Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread) put up for retail sale
- 5208Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85 % or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2
- 5209Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85 % or more by weight of cotton, weighing more than 200 g/m2
- 5210Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85 % by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing not more than 200 g/m2
- 5211Woven fabrics of cotton, containing less than 85 % by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing more than 200 g/m2
- 5212Other woven fabrics of cotton
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$8.7mUS$8.7m+US$81.1m+US$330.2m+> US$2.8bn
Exports: 195
- China: US$10.1bn
- India: US$6.6bn
- United States: US$6.3bn
- Brazil: US$5.3bn
- Vietnam: US$2.9bn
- Pakistan: US$2.8bn
- Australia: US$2.4bn
- Türkiye: US$2.2bn
- Uzbekistan: US$1.4bn
- Italy: US$1.1bn
- Germany: US$551.7m
- Egypt: US$539.4m
- Benin: US$532.6m
- Spain: US$506m
- Greece: US$487.3m
- Indonesia: US$472.2m
- Austria: US$406.1m
- Burkina Faso: US$354.5m
- South Korea: US$330.2m
- Malaysia: US$311.5m
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$302.7m
- France: US$292.2m
- Japan: US$286.3m
- Thailand: US$253.6m
- Portugal: US$235.6m
- Taiwan: US$231m
- Afghanistan: US$226.4m
- Azerbaijan: US$224m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$216m
- Netherlands: US$201.7m
- Argentina: US$180.1m
- Mexico: US$170.6m
- Mali: US$158.8m
- Kazakhstan: US$155.7m
- Belgium: US$136.3m
- Bangladesh: US$134.4m
- Dominican Republic: US$122.7m
- Turkmenistan: US$119.2m
- United Kingdom: US$108.1m
- Czechia: US$105.8m
- Tanzania: US$102.1m
- Costa Rica: US$100.9m
- Sudan: US$94m
- Guatemala: US$93.2m
- El Salvador: US$91.3m
- Honduras: US$81.1m
- Switzerland: US$78.6m
- Romania: US$73.7m
- South Africa: US$67.2m
- Tajikistan: US$66.1m
- Poland: US$61.8m
- Syria: US$51.9m
- Paraguay: US$49.9m
- Denmark: US$48.2m
- Nicaragua: US$46.9m
- Bulgaria: US$43.7m
- Hungary: US$40.8m
- Chad: US$35.9m
- Morocco: US$34.8m
- Togo: US$32.9m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$18.5mUS$18.5m+US$121.3m+US$492.9m+> US$1.3bn
Imports: 221
- China: US$8.4bn
- Bangladesh: US$7.7bn
- Vietnam: US$4.8bn
- Pakistan: US$2.4bn
- Türkiye: US$2.3bn
- Indonesia: US$1.5bn
- India: US$1.3bn
- Egypt: US$995.6m
- Italy: US$945.8m
- United States: US$910.1m
- Cambodia: US$878.9m
- Mexico: US$848.3m
- South Korea: US$778.9m
- Morocco: US$733m
- Honduras: US$687m
- Russia: US$678.6m
- Germany: US$652.4m
- Sri Lanka: US$606.6m
- Portugal: US$576.6m
- Tunisia: US$530.9m
- Thailand: US$527.3m
- Dominican Republic: US$499.2m
- Guatemala: US$492.9m
- Colombia: US$491.6m
- Spain: US$451.1m
- Malaysia: US$442.8m
- France: US$437.2m
- Nigeria: US$420.4m
- Japan: US$375.2m
- Peru: US$365.5m
- United Arab Emirates: US$358.3m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$301m
- Poland: US$291.1m
- Togo: US$271.5m
- Austria: US$261.7m
- United Kingdom: US$242.4m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$235.9m
- Netherlands: US$227.2m
- Brazil: US$225.9m
- Senegal: US$221.7m
- El Salvador: US$217m
- Mali: US$216.3m
- Romania: US$211.3m
- South Africa: US$187.1m
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$171.1m
- Ghana: US$167.3m
- Belgium: US$166.3m
- Iran: US$155.5m
- Taiwan: US$146.2m
- Philippines: US$145.7m
- Switzerland: US$142.6m
- Greece: US$140.6m
- Madagascar: US$131.3m
- Mauritius: US$129m
- Haiti: US$123.2m
- Czechia: US$121.3m
- Ukraine: US$117m
- Bulgaria: US$113.6m
- Gambia: US$109.7m
- Tanzania: US$108.1m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$10.1bn | 19.7% |
| 2 |  India | US$6.6bn | 12.8% |
| 3 | United States | US$6.3bn | 12.3% |
| 4 |  Brazil | US$5.3bn | 10.3% |
| 5 |  Vietnam | US$2.9bn | 5.6% |
| 6 |  Pakistan | US$2.8bn | 5.5% |
| 7 |  Australia | US$2.4bn | 4.6% |
| 8 | Türkiye | US$2.2bn | 4.3% |
| 9 |  Uzbekistan | US$1.4bn | 2.8% |
| 10 |  Italy | US$1.1bn | 2.1% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$8.4bn | 16.4% |
| 2 |  Bangladesh | US$7.7bn | 14.9% |
| 3 | Vietnam | US$4.8bn | 9.4% |
| 4 | Pakistan | US$2.4bn | 4.6% |
| 5 | Türkiye | US$2.3bn | 4.6% |
| 6 |  Indonesia | US$1.5bn | 3% |
| 7 | India | US$1.3bn | 2.6% |
| 8 |  Egypt | US$995.6m | 1.9% |
| 9 | Italy | US$945.8m | 1.8% |
| 10 | United States | US$910.1m | 1.8% |
Chapter notes
Subheading note
1. For the purposes of subheadings 520942 and 521142, the expression ‘denim’ means fabrics of yarns of different colours, of 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including broken twill, warp faced, the warp yarns of which are of one and the same colour and the weft yarns of which are unbleached, bleached, dyed grey or coloured a lighter shade of the colour of the warp yarns.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for cotton?
Cotton make up HS chapter 52, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on cotton in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 52 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 8%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on cotton in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 52 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 8%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most cotton?
China, with US$10.1bn in 2024 (19.7% of world exports).