Subheading · Chapter 52 · Heading 5203
5203.00: Cotton, carded or combed
Subheading 5203.00 belongs to heading 5203 (cotton, carded or combed) in chapter 52.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 5203 00 00 00 Cotton, carded or combed
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Import requirements 2
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Documents
- Y084 Derogation from import prohibition by virtue of Article 16i (1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1509
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code " EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £222k | 51.9% | -44.3% |
 United States | £124k | 28.9% | +169.8% |
 Türkiye | £29k | 6.8% | -73.5% |
 Italy | £15k | 3.5% | +66.3% |
 Japan | £14k | 3.3% | — |
 India | £11k | 2.6% | -92.3% |
 Australia | £5k | 1.2% | -53% |
 Pakistan | £4k | 0.9% | -98.9% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Türkiye Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA 4.3% – 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 4.8% · 1× specific or compound duty 
Canada Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Brazil 7.2% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Argentina 7.2% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Peru 6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Japan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$133kUS$133k+US$1m+US$6m+> US$19m
Exports: 102
- India: US$78m
- Indonesia: US$20m
- Türkiye: US$19m
- Japan: US$9m
- Poland: US$9m
- Pakistan: US$8m
- Tanzania: US$8m
- Italy: US$7m
- United States: US$7m
- Uganda: US$6m
- South Korea: US$4m
- Mozambique: US$4m
- Malaysia: US$4m
- China: US$3m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Germany: US$2m
- South Africa: US$2m
- Spain: US$2m
- Estonia: US$2m
- Uzbekistan: US$1m
- Thailand: US$1m
- Russia: US$1m
- Lesotho: US$1m
- France: US$1m
- Mexico: US$1m
- Netherlands: US$1m
- Czechia: US$928k
- Vietnam: US$528k
- Belgium: US$511k
- Greece: US$477k
- Azerbaijan: US$468k
- Brazil: US$468k
- Costa Rica: US$444k
- Egypt: US$389k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$333k
- United Kingdom: US$309k
- Australia: US$293k
- Hungary: US$292k
- Guatemala: US$251k
- Romania: US$214k
- El Salvador: US$195k
- Tunisia: US$186k
- Austria: US$170k
- Latvia: US$168k
- Serbia: US$167k
- Honduras: US$165k
- Taiwan: US$158k
- Turkmenistan: US$155k
- Denmark: US$133k
- Morocco: US$104k
- Peru: US$86k
- Switzerland: US$55k
- Madagascar: US$53k
- United Arab Emirates: US$53k
- Bulgaria: US$52k
- Kazakhstan: US$48k
- Argentina: US$44k
- Sweden: US$40k
- Canada: US$38k
- Finland: US$34k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$81kUS$81k+US$596k+US$3m+> US$8m
Imports: 159
- Vietnam: US$79m
- Poland: US$15m
- China: US$12m
- France: US$12m
- Greece: US$8m
- Pakistan: US$7m
- Spain: US$7m
- Taiwan: US$5m
- Germany: US$5m
- Japan: US$4m
- India: US$3m
- Botswana: US$3m
- Italy: US$3m
- United Kingdom: US$3m
- Israel: US$3m
- Bangladesh: US$3m
- Mexico: US$2m
- United States: US$2m
- Mauritius: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Brazil: US$2m
- Indonesia: US$2m
- Malaysia: US$2m
- Singapore: US$1m
- Thailand: US$1m
- Algeria: US$1m
- Switzerland: US$1m
- Romania: US$1m
- Türkiye: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- South Korea: US$988k
- Dominican Republic: US$872k
- Croatia: US$860k
- Saudi Arabia: US$797k
- Netherlands: US$709k
- Chile: US$675k
- Honduras: US$674k
- Egypt: US$596k
- Colombia: US$560k
- El Salvador: US$547k
- Nepal: US$543k
- Iran: US$517k
- Philippines: US$514k
- Latvia: US$485k
- Portugal: US$466k
- Austria: US$413k
- Australia: US$401k
- Argentina: US$384k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$367k
- Serbia: US$354k
- Lesotho: US$354k
- Tunisia: US$318k
- Armenia: US$310k
- Ecuador: US$303k
- Venezuela: US$300k
- Sweden: US$289k
- Eswatini: US$275k
- New Zealand: US$252k
- Ireland: US$250k
Import duty on this product around the world 165
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 5%median duty
- 66number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, India, China
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 2.5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 2% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 8% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
| Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 15% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 8% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 5% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 12% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 21% | 1% – 40% | 2023 |
 Colombia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 15% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 0% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 15% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 30% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 15% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 5% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 15% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 5% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 5% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
| Pakistan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 8% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 3% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 5% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 5% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 15% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 3% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 1% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 20% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 5% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 4.8% | 4.3% – 5% | 2023 |
 Uruguay | 8% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 10% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 8% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 15% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0% | 0% – 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 2634 Cotton, carded/combed
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 411210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 26160 Cotton, carded or combed
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 1311 Preparation and spinning of textile fibres
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5203.00 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 5203.00 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 5203.00 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 5203.00 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 5203.00 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 5203.00 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 1
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- H314186 U.S. CBP
Application for Further Review of Protest No. 2304-20-101510; Tariff classification of comber noils and eligibility for preferential tariff treatment under the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”)
Subheading 5203.00 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule has one tariff line for subheading 5203.00; the duty is duty-free.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £429k between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 64% on the year before); China supplied 52%, followed by United States.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$213m (−65.8% year on year).
The largest exporter was India (US$78m), followed by Indonesia.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for cotton, carded or combed?
Cotton, carded or combed fall under HS subheading 5203.00, part of heading 5203, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on cotton, carded or combed in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5203.00 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on cotton, carded or combed in Türkiye?
Under the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, imports under 5203.00 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most cotton, carded or combed?
India, with US$78m in 2024 (36.5% of world exports).
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (52%), United States (29%) and Türkiye (7%), out of total imports of £429k.