Subheading · Chapter 54 · Heading 5401
5401.10: Sewing thread of man-made filaments, whether: of synthetic filaments
Official description Of synthetic filaments
5401.10 is a six-digit subheading of heading 5401, sewing thread of man-made filaments, whether or not put up for retail sale, chapter 54.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 5401 10 00 00 Of synthetic filaments
- Not put up for retail sale
- Core yarn
- 5401 10 12 00 Polyester filament surrounded by cotton fibres 4%
- 5401 10 14 00 Other 4%
- 5401 10 14 10 Core yarn of high tenacity polyester filament surrounded by polyester staple fibres: -with a twist of 410 tpm or more but not more than 1200 tpm, -with a linear density of 200 dtex or more but not more than 1500 dtex, -with an average tenacity of 46 cn/tex or more, -with an elongation at break of 13% or more but not more than 23%, -wound on a perforated dyeing tube, -with a weight, including tube, of 900 g or more 4%
- 5401 10 14 90 Other 4%
- Other
- 5401 10 16 00 Textured yarn 4%
- 5401 10 18 00 Other 4%
- 5401 10 90 00 Put up for retail sale 4%
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 2
- 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)
- Tariff lines
- on 5 of 6 lines
- 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 4
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- 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 on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- Iran
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/461
- Documents
- Y966 Goods other than those described in the MG footnotes linked to the measure (Missile Technology Control Regime list - Annex III of Reg. (EU) 267/2012)
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 4% |
| 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 | 3.2% |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £2.8m | 32.8% | +1.1% |
 Egypt | £2.6m | 31% | +48.4% |
 Germany | £1.2m | 14.2% | -38.5% |
 Türkiye | £432k | 5.1% | -2.3% |
 India | £345k | 4.1% | -44.2% |
 Vietnam | £227k | 2.7% | +14.9% |
 United States | £224k | 2.6% | -54.8% |
 Netherlands | £204k | 2.4% | +8.6% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 4% – 5% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 4.2% Türkiye 4% – 5% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 4.2% USA 11.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 16.2% – 18% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 17.4% 
Argentina 16% – 18% General (MFN) 8 tariff lines · average 16.3% 
Peru 6% – 11% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 8.5% 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Japan 4% – 6.6% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 5.2% 
Taiwan 4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$303kUS$303k+US$3m+US$18m+> US$42m
Exports: 136
- China: US$389m
- Germany: US$139m
- United States: US$80m
- Romania: US$42m
- Türkiye: US$36m
- Italy: US$34m
- United Kingdom: US$33m
- Vietnam: US$29m
- Egypt: US$24m
- India: US$22m
- Japan: US$18m
- Honduras: US$18m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$18m
- South Korea: US$16m
- Mexico: US$16m
- Czechia: US$15m
- Spain: US$11m
- Hungary: US$10m
- Taiwan: US$10m
- Thailand: US$10m
- Brazil: US$7m
- Netherlands: US$7m
- France: US$7m
- Costa Rica: US$6m
- Guatemala: US$6m
- Poland: US$6m
- Indonesia: US$5m
- Portugal: US$5m
- Mauritius: US$5m
- Austria: US$4m
- Slovenia: US$3m
- Dominican Republic: US$3m
- Bulgaria: US$3m
- Slovakia: US$3m
- Israel: US$2m
- Canada: US$2m
- Sri Lanka: US$2m
- Oman: US$2m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Malaysia: US$1m
- Sweden: US$1m
- Belgium: US$1m
- Denmark: US$1m
- Lithuania: US$1m
- Colombia: US$962k
- Switzerland: US$889k
- Tunisia: US$819k
- Singapore: US$768k
- Nicaragua: US$705k
- Greece: US$694k
- Russia: US$622k
- El Salvador: US$613k
- Latvia: US$579k
- Pakistan: US$540k
- Belarus: US$482k
- Ireland: US$471k
- Serbia: US$466k
- Ecuador: US$392k
- Morocco: US$392k
- Croatia: US$365k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$1mUS$1m+US$5m+US$16m+> US$32m
Imports: 199
- Mexico: US$87m
- Germany: US$76m
- Vietnam: US$74m
- United States: US$46m
- Cambodia: US$40m
- Romania: US$32m
- Italy: US$28m
- Nicaragua: US$25m
- China: US$24m
- Poland: US$23m
- Thailand: US$21m
- Tunisia: US$20m
- Bangladesh: US$19m
- Jordan: US$19m
- Guatemala: US$19m
- France: US$18m
- Indonesia: US$17m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$17m
- Morocco: US$16m
- Türkiye: US$16m
- Spain: US$15m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$14m
- United Kingdom: US$13m
- Russia: US$12m
- Czechia: US$12m
- Hungary: US$12m
- India: US$11m
- Canada: US$11m
- Portugal: US$11m
- Netherlands: US$11m
- Ukraine: US$11m
- United Arab Emirates: US$10m
- Madagascar: US$10m
- Egypt: US$9m
- Brazil: US$9m
- Philippines: US$9m
- South Korea: US$8m
- Japan: US$8m
- Kenya: US$8m
- Serbia: US$8m
- North Macedonia: US$7m
- Australia: US$6m
- Iraq: US$6m
- Albania: US$6m
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$6m
- Bulgaria: US$6m
- South Africa: US$6m
- Colombia: US$5m
- Malaysia: US$5m
- Slovakia: US$5m
- Algeria: US$5m
- Kazakhstan: US$5m
- Belgium: US$4m
- Switzerland: US$4m
- Honduras: US$4m
- Dominican Republic: US$4m
- Austria: US$4m
- Sri Lanka: US$4m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$4m
- Lesotho: US$4m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$389m | 36.4% |
| 2 | Germany | US$139m | 13% |
| 3 | United States | US$80m | 7.5% |
| 4 |  Romania | US$42m | 3.9% |
| 5 | Türkiye | US$36m | 3.4% |
| 6 |  Italy | US$34m | 3.2% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | US$33m | 3.1% |
| 8 | Vietnam | US$29m | 2.7% |
| 9 | Egypt | US$24m | 2.2% |
| 10 | India | US$22m | 2.1% |
Import duty on this product around the world 164
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
- 29number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 25%highest: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda
164
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 2.5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 18% | 15% – 30% | 2023 |
 Angola | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 3% | 0% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Bahamas | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 10% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 8.8% | 4% – 10% | 2022 |
 Botswana | 15% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 25% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 5% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 13% | 10% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 5% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Egypt | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 5% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 15% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 4.2% | 4% – 5% | 2023 |
 Fiji | 0% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 5% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 5% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 10% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 5.2% | 4% – 6.6% | 2023 |
 Jordan | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 Kazakhstan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 25%* | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 15% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 15% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 19%* | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 10% | 0% – 20% | 2023 |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 10% | 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 | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 15% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 5% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 3.6% | 0% – 6% | 2017 · HS 2017 |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 17% | 16% – 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
| Peru | 8.5% | 6% – 11% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Philippines | 10% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 10% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 10% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 15% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 8% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 St Lucia | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 7% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 16%* | 2023 | |
 Syria | 5% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 5% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 10% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 9.1% | 9% – 10% | 2023 |
 Tuvalu | 15% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 4% | 2023 | |
| United States | 11% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 17% | 16% – 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 5% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Vietnam | 5% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 15% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 0.1% – 0.2% | 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
- 65141 Sewing thread of man- made fibres, whether/not put up forretail sale, of synthetic filaments
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 411220
- CPC 2.1 product
- 26410 Sewing thread of man-made filaments or staple fibres
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 1311 Preparation and spinning of textile fibres
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5401.10 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 5401.10 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 5401.10 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 5401.10 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 5401.10 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 5401.10 | 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.
- N300331 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification, country of origin and status under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) for a textile wrist wrap and a textile abdominal binder from El Salvador
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.
- Suspension · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1463 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
- Other
Update to Commodity Code structure to maintain dynamic alignment with the EU – 30 June 2026
Trade Tariff news 6995 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 5401.10 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is 4%.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides subheading 5401.10 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is between 4% and 5% (average 4.2%).
Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 4%; 173 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported these goods worth £8.4m (down 6% on the year before), at an average of £19.31 per kg; China supplied 33%, followed by Egypt.
World trade in these goods reached US$1.1bn in 2024, down 0.5% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 36.4% of the total, ahead of Germany.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for sewing thread of man-made filaments, whether: of synthetic filaments?
Sewing thread of man-made filaments, whether: of synthetic filaments fall under HS subheading 5401.10, part of heading 5401, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on sewing thread of man-made filaments in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5401.10 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on sewing thread of man-made filaments in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5401.10 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 sewing thread of man-made filaments?
China, with US$389m in 2024 (36.4% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods 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 4% 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 China (33%), Egypt (31%) and Germany (14%), out of total imports of £8.4m.