Subheading · Chapter 52 · Heading 5209
5209.42: Of yarns of different colours: denim
Denim (heavy cotton)
Official description Denim
5209.42 is the HS subheading for denim (heavy cotton), under heading 5209 in chapter 52.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 5209 42 00 00 Denim 8%m²
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 3
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1431
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
- Duty suspensionAirworthiness tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2018/1249
- Documents
- C119 Authorised Release Certificate — EASA Form 1 (Appendix I to Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), or equivalent certificate
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) | — | 8% |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | 6.4% |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Italy | £160k | 30.6% | +17.1% |
 Türkiye | £135k | 25.8% | -36.4% |
 Japan | £116k | 22.2% | +0.7% |
 India | £41k | 7.8% | +69.5% |
 China | £39k | 7.4% | -65.5% |
 United States | £8k | 1.6% | -73.2% |
 Bangladesh | £7k | 1.3% | — |
 Germany | £3k | 0.6% | -29.5% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 8% Third-country duty 1 tariff line Türkiye 8% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA 8.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Mexico 25% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
Brazil 26% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Argentina 18% Third-country duty 36 tariff lines 
Peru 11% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Japan 5.6% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · 1× specific or compound duty 
Taiwan 10% 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 20% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% Third-country duty 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$218kUS$218k+US$4m+US$34m+> US$214m
Exports: 116
- China: US$658m
- Pakistan: US$509m
- Türkiye: US$225m
- India: US$214m
- Egypt: US$102m
- Italy: US$70m
- Thailand: US$60m
- United States: US$59m
- Japan: US$58m
- Vietnam: US$50m
- Brazil: US$34m
- Mexico: US$33m
- Spain: US$25m
- Taiwan: US$21m
- Morocco: US$21m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$17m
- France: US$14m
- Germany: US$13m
- Turkmenistan: US$12m
- Lesotho: US$12m
- Bangladesh: US$12m
- Netherlands: US$11m
- Belgium: US$8m
- South Africa: US$6m
- South Korea: US$5m
- Ecuador: US$4m
- Algeria: US$4m
- Venezuela: US$4m
- Sri Lanka: US$3m
- Bulgaria: US$3m
- Tunisia: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Portugal: US$2m
- Mauritius: US$1m
- Cambodia: US$1m
- Ethiopia: US$1m
- Romania: US$1m
- Uzbekistan: US$1m
- Russia: US$845k
- Peru: US$769k
- Czechia: US$655k
- Poland: US$518k
- Israel: US$444k
- Colombia: US$420k
- Bolivia: US$385k
- Guatemala: US$381k
- Greece: US$280k
- United Kingdom: US$277k
- Indonesia: US$247k
- Slovakia: US$243k
- Austria: US$218k
- Denmark: US$159k
- Panama: US$150k
- Australia: US$150k
- Sweden: US$149k
- Switzerland: US$147k
- Singapore: US$132k
- El Salvador: US$76k
- Slovenia: US$68k
- Jordan: US$68k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$362kUS$362k+US$4m+US$23m+> US$129m
Imports: 175
- Bangladesh: US$598m
- Cambodia: US$172m
- Tunisia: US$162m
- Egypt: US$143m
- Türkiye: US$129m
- Vietnam: US$125m
- Mexico: US$114m
- China: US$78m
- Colombia: US$74m
- Morocco: US$69m
- South Korea: US$65m
- Sri Lanka: US$63m
- Italy: US$57m
- United States: US$42m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$38m
- Indonesia: US$24m
- Spain: US$23m
- Peru: US$22m
- Guatemala: US$22m
- United Arab Emirates: US$17m
- Madagascar: US$15m
- Germany: US$13m
- Paraguay: US$13m
- Kenya: US$12m
- Portugal: US$11m
- South Africa: US$10m
- Tanzania: US$9m
- India: US$9m
- Nepal: US$8m
- Thailand: US$8m
- Russia: US$7m
- Serbia: US$7m
- Nicaragua: US$7m
- Pakistan: US$7m
- France: US$6m
- Mauritius: US$5m
- Iran: US$5m
- Honduras: US$5m
- Romania: US$4m
- Dominican Republic: US$4m
- Poland: US$4m
- Lesotho: US$4m
- Ecuador: US$4m
- Syria: US$4m
- Argentina: US$4m
- Ukraine: US$4m
- Eswatini: US$3m
- Uzbekistan: US$3m
- Netherlands: US$3m
- Venezuela: US$3m
- Uganda: US$3m
- Chile: US$3m
- Jordan: US$3m
- Uruguay: US$2m
- Albania: US$2m
- Bolivia: US$2m
- Canada: US$2m
- Japan: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Philippines: US$2m
Import duty on this product around the world 163
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.
- 10%median duty
- 27number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 67%highest: Zimbabwe, Sudan, Iran
163
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 30% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 26% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 30% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
| Bangladesh | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 20% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 5% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 22% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 26% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 20% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 25% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 7% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 20% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 12% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 20% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 20% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 8% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 20% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 4.5% | 0% – 9% | 2023 |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 30% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 5% | 0% – 10% | 2022 |
 Equatorial Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 22% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 8% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 0% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 20% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 20% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 5% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 15% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 5% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 32% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 5.6% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 10% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 25%* | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 10% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 22% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 20% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 20% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 20% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 22% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 15% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 5% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Niger | 20% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 20% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 20% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 11% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 6% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 3% | 0% – 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
| Peru | 11% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 10% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 20% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 20% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 22% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 1.4%* | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 5% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 40% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 10% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 20% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 5%* | 2023 | |
 Togo | 20% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 28% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 19% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Ukraine | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 8% | 2023 | |
| United States | 8.4% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 10% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 26% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 12% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 15%* | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 67%* | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · 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
- 65243 Other woven fabrics,>85% cotton, weighing > 200 g/m2, denim
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 411220
- CPC 2.1 product
- 26620 Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing more than 200 g/m2
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 1312 Weaving of textiles
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5209.42 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 5209.42 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 5209.42 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 5209.42 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 5209.42 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 5209.42, 5209.43 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Tariff change
UK Trade Tariff: measure changes on 433 commodity codes
Trade Tariff changes 2026-07-22 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 5209.42; the duty is 8%.
Subheading 5209.42 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 8%.
173 countries pay no duty in the UK thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as DCTS Comprehensive and European Union, against a standard rate of 8%.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
Imports of denim (heavy cotton) into the UK came to £524.1k between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 26% on the year before); Italy supplied 31%, followed by Türkiye.
In 2024, countries exported denim (heavy cotton) worth US$2bn (+11.1% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$658m), followed by Pakistan.
Legal 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 of yarns of different colours: denim?
Of yarns of different colours: denim fall under HS subheading 5209.42, part of heading 5209, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on of yarns of different colours: denim in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5209.42 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 8%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on of yarns of different colours: denim in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5209.42 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 8%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most of yarns of different colours: denim?
China, with US$658m in 2024 (28.8% of world exports).
Which countries can export denim (heavy cotton) to the UK duty-free?
173 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of 8% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on denim (heavy cotton)?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import denim (heavy cotton) from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Italy (31%), Türkiye (26%) and Japan (22%), out of total imports of £524.1k.