Subheading · Chapter 53 · Heading 5301
5301.21: Flax, broken, scutched, hackled or otherwise processed: broken or scutched
Official description Broken or scutched
Subheading 5301.21 belongs to heading 5301 (flax, raw or processed but not spun) in chapter 53.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 5301 21 00 00 Broken or scutched Free
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Import requirements 3
- 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
- Import controlImport control of organic products
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/693
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | Free |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium | £8k | 100% | +74.2% |
 China | £0 | 0% | -100% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
USA specific or compound duty General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 5.4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Argentina 5.4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$41kUS$41k+US$589k+US$21m+> US$151m
Exports: 42
- France: US$731m
- Belgium: US$151m
- Egypt: US$74m
- Netherlands: US$21m
- Russia: US$5m
- Poland: US$3m
- Belarus: US$2m
- Latvia: US$1m
- Sweden: US$589k
- Portugal: US$302k
- Lithuania: US$290k
- Ukraine: US$229k
- China: US$179k
- India: US$152k
- Japan: US$127k
- Germany: US$112k
- United States: US$41k
- Denmark: US$9k
- Taiwan: US$6k
- Kazakhstan: US$3k
- Vietnam: US$3k
- South Korea: US$2k
- Czechia: US$2k
- Italy: US$2k
- Bulgaria: US$2k
- New Zealand: US$1k
- Austria: US$900
- South Africa: US$900
- Canada: US$200
- United Kingdom: US$200
- Malta: US$200
- Croatia: US$100
- Romania: US$100
- Türkiye: US$100
- Switzerland: US$0
- Spain: US$0
- Finland: US$0
- Greece: US$0
- Hungary: US$0
- Luxembourg: US$0
- Slovakia: US$0
- Slovenia: US$0
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$16kUS$16k+US$700k+US$19m+> US$158m
Imports: 62
- China: US$589m
- India: US$158m
- Belgium: US$138m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$21m
- Djibouti: US$20m
- Lithuania: US$19m
- Bangladesh: US$11m
- Netherlands: US$10m
- France: US$8m
- Poland: US$5m
- Ethiopia: US$4m
- Italy: US$2m
- Latvia: US$1m
- Vietnam: US$844k
- Denmark: US$701k
- Germany: US$646k
- Egypt: US$467k
- Türkiye: US$432k
- Taiwan: US$265k
- Japan: US$260k
- Indonesia: US$138k
- Romania: US$104k
- Pakistan: US$93k
- Israel: US$77k
- Switzerland: US$56k
- Peru: US$25k
- Mexico: US$20k
- Austria: US$19k
- Slovenia: US$18k
- Singapore: US$16k
- Kazakhstan: US$15k
- Ireland: US$14k
- Moldova: US$10k
- Spain: US$9k
- United Kingdom: US$3k
- Canada: US$3k
- Philippines: US$2k
- Portugal: US$2k
- Czechia: US$2k
- Luxembourg: US$1k
- Croatia: US$1k
- Norway: US$1k
- Zambia: US$900
- South Korea: US$700
- North Macedonia: US$600
- Slovakia: US$600
- Malta: US$500
- Saudi Arabia: US$500
- United States: US$500
- Bulgaria: US$400
- Cyprus: US$400
- Hungary: US$400
- Australia: US$300
- Sweden: US$300
- Angola: US$200
- Estonia: US$200
- Finland: US$200
- Greece: US$200
- Iceland: US$100
- Montenegro: US$100
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  France | US$731m | 73.8% |
| 2 | Belgium | US$151m | 15.2% |
| 3 |  Egypt | US$74m | 7.5% |
| 4 |  Netherlands | US$21m | 2.1% |
| 5 |  Russia | US$5m | 0.5% |
| 6 |  Poland | US$3m | 0.3% |
| 7 |  Belarus | US$2m | 0.2% |
| 8 |  Latvia | US$1m | 0.1% |
| 9 |  Sweden | US$589k | 0.1% |
| 10 |  Portugal | US$302k | 0% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$589m | 59.5% |
| 2 |  India | US$158m | 16% |
| 3 | Belgium | US$138m | 13.9% |
| 4 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$21m | 2.1% |
| 5 |  Djibouti | US$20m | 2% |
| 6 |  Lithuania | US$19m | 1.9% |
| 7 |  Bangladesh | US$11m | 1.1% |
| 8 | Netherlands | US$10m | 1% |
| 9 | France | US$8m | 0.8% |
| 10 | Poland | US$5m | 0.5% |
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
- 67number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Sudan, Comoros
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 | 0% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
| Bangladesh | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
| Belarus | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 6% | 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 | 6% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 10% | 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 | 0% | 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 | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 5% | 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 | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 0% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 10% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 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 | 4% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 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 | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 3% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
| Russia | 10% | 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 | 0% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 2% | 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 | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 1% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 5% | 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 | 1% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0%* | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 5% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 15% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 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
- 26512 Flax, broken, scutched, hackled/othw. processed, but not spun
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 411210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 26190 Other vegetable textile fibres, processed but not spun; tow and waste of these fibres
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 1311 Preparation and spinning of textile fibres
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5301.21 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 5301.21 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 5301.21 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 5301.21 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 5301.21 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 5301.21 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 5301.21; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 5301.21 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.
174 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 Free.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £8.4k between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 27% on the year before); Belgium supplied 100%, followed by China.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$990m (−2% year on year).
The largest exporter was France (US$731m), followed by Belgium.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for flax, broken, scutched, hackled or otherwise processed: broken or scutched?
Flax, broken, scutched, hackled or otherwise processed: broken or scutched fall under HS subheading 5301.21, part of heading 5301, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on flax, broken, scutched, hackled or otherwise… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5301.21 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 flax, broken, scutched, hackled or otherwise… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5301.21 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 flax, broken, scutched, hackled or otherwise…?
France, with US$731m in 2024 (73.8% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?
174 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 Free applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Belgium (100%) and China (0%), out of total imports of £8.4k.