Heading · Chapter 52
5204: Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale
3 subheadings make up heading 5204 in chapter 52 (cotton).
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
EU 4% – 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 4.3% 
Türkiye 4% – 5% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 4.5% 
USA 4.4% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Canada Free – 8% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 2.7% 
Mexico 10% – 25% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 15% 
Brazil 18% Third-country duty 13 tariff lines 
Argentina 14% – 16% Third-country duty 27 tariff lines · average 14.2% 
Peru Free – 11% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 5.7% 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 9 tariff lines 
Japan 3% – 5.6% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 4% 
Taiwan 4% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Norway Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 12.5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 4.2% 
Nigeria 10% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines Subheadings 3
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$25kUS$25k+US$395k+US$3m+> US$6m
Exports: 130
- China: US$40m
- India: US$14m
- Italy: US$8m
- Germany: US$6m
- Egypt: US$6m
- United States: US$5m
- Honduras: US$5m
- France: US$4m
- Vietnam: US$4m
- Türkiye: US$4m
- Guatemala: US$3m
- Romania: US$3m
- Costa Rica: US$3m
- Dominican Republic: US$3m
- Pakistan: US$2m
- Japan: US$2m
- Netherlands: US$2m
- Spain: US$2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Greece: US$1m
- Czechia: US$1m
- Thailand: US$1m
- Portugal: US$1m
- Taiwan: US$1m
- South Korea: US$1m
- United Kingdom: US$593k
- Hungary: US$520k
- Denmark: US$453k
- Sri Lanka: US$395k
- Brazil: US$387k
- Poland: US$320k
- Bulgaria: US$236k
- Belgium: US$229k
- Peru: US$204k
- El Salvador: US$188k
- Israel: US$182k
- Sweden: US$178k
- Mexico: US$170k
- Canada: US$167k
- Indonesia: US$146k
- Australia: US$119k
- Singapore: US$115k
- Tanzania: US$97k
- Malaysia: US$97k
- Switzerland: US$78k
- United Arab Emirates: US$78k
- New Zealand: US$66k
- Finland: US$62k
- Colombia: US$61k
- Ireland: US$59k
- Uzbekistan: US$53k
- Croatia: US$48k
- Mauritius: US$39k
- Bangladesh: US$38k
- Serbia: US$35k
- Cambodia: US$26k
- Russia: US$26k
- Slovakia: US$25k
- Uganda: US$25k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$179kUS$179k+US$602k+US$2m+> US$4m
Imports: 190
- United States: US$12m
- Vietnam: US$6m
- Guatemala: US$6m
- Cambodia: US$5m
- Portugal: US$4m
- Costa Rica: US$4m
- Italy: US$4m
- Germany: US$4m
- Poland: US$4m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$3m
- Honduras: US$3m
- Colombia: US$3m
- France: US$3m
- Netherlands: US$3m
- Philippines: US$3m
- Dominican Republic: US$3m
- Canada: US$2m
- Morocco: US$2m
- United Kingdom: US$2m
- Haiti: US$2m
- Spain: US$2m
- Romania: US$2m
- El Salvador: US$2m
- Indonesia: US$2m
- Japan: US$2m
- Nigeria: US$2m
- Bangladesh: US$2m
- Türkiye: US$2m
- Kazakhstan: US$2m
- Tunisia: US$2m
- Hungary: US$1m
- Mexico: US$1m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$1m
- Thailand: US$1m
- Sri Lanka: US$1m
- Malaysia: US$1m
- Switzerland: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Senegal: US$1m
- Burkina Faso: US$823k
- Ghana: US$794k
- Albania: US$789k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$769k
- Kenya: US$769k
- Australia: US$716k
- Norway: US$630k
- Angola: US$602k
- Denmark: US$595k
- Ecuador: US$595k
- Nicaragua: US$555k
- Belgium: US$522k
- Lesotho: US$509k
- South Korea: US$509k
- Saudi Arabia: US$500k
- India: US$496k
- Bulgaria: US$493k
- China: US$487k
- Egypt: US$476k
- Brazil: US$444k
- Sweden: US$439k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$40m | 30.7% |
| 2 |  India | US$14m | 10.3% |
| 3 |  Italy | US$8m | 6.3% |
| 4 |  Germany | US$6m | 4.8% |
| 5 |  Egypt | US$6m | 4.4% |
| 6 | United States | US$5m | 3.8% |
| 7 |  Honduras | US$5m | 3.7% |
| 8 |  France | US$4m | 3.2% |
| 9 |  Vietnam | US$4m | 3.2% |
| 10 | Türkiye | US$4m | 2.8% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$12m | 8.9% |
| 2 | Vietnam | US$6m | 4.9% |
| 3 |  Guatemala | US$6m | 4.8% |
| 4 |  Cambodia | US$5m | 3.4% |
| 5 |  Portugal | US$4m | 3.1% |
| 6 |  Costa Rica | US$4m | 3.1% |
| 7 | Italy | US$4m | 2.9% |
| 8 | Germany | US$4m | 2.8% |
| 9 |  Poland | US$4m | 2.7% |
| 10 |  Kyrgyzstan | US$3m | 2.4% |
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 5204 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 5204 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is between 4% and 5% (average 4.3%).
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 5204 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is between 4% and 5%.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 5204 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is 4.4%.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 5204 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 8%. 2 of them are duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) divides heading 5204 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is between 10% and 25% (average 15%).
In the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), heading 5204 covers 13 tariff lines and the duty is 18%.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 5204 into 27 tariff lines; the duty is between 14% and 16% (average 14.2%).
In the Customs Tariff of Peru, heading 5204 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 11%. 1 of them is duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand divides heading 5204 into 9 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 5204 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is between 3% and 5.6%.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 5204 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is 4%.
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 5204 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 5204 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway, heading 5204 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 5204 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 12.5% (average 4.2%). 2 of them are duty-free.
In the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), heading 5204 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is 10%.
World trade in heading 5204 goods reached US$132m in 2024, down 11.4% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 30.7% of the total, ahead of India.
The United States imported the most (US$12m).
The United Kingdom ranked 27th among 130 exporters with US$593k.
The United Kingdom imported US$2m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale?
Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale fall under HS heading 5204, part of chapter 52, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on cotton sewing thread in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5204 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 sewing thread in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5204 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4% to 5%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most cotton sewing thread?
China, with US$40m in 2024 (30.7% of world exports).