Chapter · Section XI
Chapter 55: Man-made staple fibres
- 0%–8%UK
- 4%–8%EU
- 25%–150%Türkiye
- 0%–25%USA
- US$37.8bnWorld trade in 2024
Chapter 55 of the Harmonized System has 16 headings and belongs to section XI (textiles and textile articles).
The UK Global Tariff divides chapter 55 into 148 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 8% (average 5.2%). 43 of them are duty-free.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, chapter 55 covers 144 tariff lines and the duty is between 4% and 8%.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule divides chapter 55 into 159 tariff lines; the statutory rate is between 25% and 150% (average 110.4%).
In 2024, countries exported chapter 55 goods worth US$37.8bn (+0.8% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$14.1bn), followed by the United States.
The biggest buyer was Vietnam, with imports of US$2.3bn.
Duty rates compared
UK Free – 8% Third-country duty 148 tariff lines · average 5.2% 
EU 4% – 8% Third-country duty 144 tariff lines · average 6.4% 
Türkiye 25% – 150% Statutory rate (Law 474) 159 tariff lines · average 110.4% 
USA Free – 25% General (MFN) 133 tariff lines · average 10.7% The Turkish schedule prints the statutory rate set under Customs Law 474. The rate applied at import is laid down in the Import Regime Decision and can be lower, or different by country of origin.
Headings 16
- 5501Synthetic filament tow
- 5502Artificial filament tow
- 5503Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning
- 5504Artificial staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning
- 5505Waste (including noils, yarn waste and garnetted stock) of man-made fibres
- 5506Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning
- 5507Artificial staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning
- 5508Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale
- 5509Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail sale
- 5510Yarn (other than sewing thread) of artificial staple fibres, not put up for retail sale
- 5511Yarn (other than sewing thread) of man-made staple fibres, put up for retail sale
- 5512Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85 % or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres
- 5513Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing less than 85 % by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight not exceeding 170 g/m2
- 5514Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres, containing less than 85 % by weight of such fibres, mixed mainly or solely with cotton, of a weight exceeding 170 g/m2
- 5515Other woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres
- 5516Woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2.5mUS$2.5m+US$44.1m+US$341.4m+> US$1.6bn
Exports: 185
- China: US$14.1bn
- United States: US$2.3bn
- Indonesia: US$2bn
- Türkiye: US$1.7bn
- India: US$1.7bn
- Japan: US$1.6bn
- South Korea: US$1.5bn
- Thailand: US$1.4bn
- Germany: US$1.4bn
- Austria: US$1.1bn
- Italy: US$994.7m
- Belgium: US$824.6m
- Spain: US$708.2m
- Vietnam: US$665.8m
- Taiwan: US$581.1m
- France: US$475.9m
- Pakistan: US$454.4m
- Portugal: US$341.4m
- Netherlands: US$321.1m
- Malaysia: US$313.3m
- United Kingdom: US$296.3m
- Poland: US$199m
- Romania: US$182.4m
- Egypt: US$160.2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$152.2m
- Czechia: US$151.5m
- Mexico: US$143.9m
- Singapore: US$133.2m
- Denmark: US$132.4m
- Bulgaria: US$128.3m
- Nepal: US$91.6m
- South Africa: US$90.3m
- Switzerland: US$89.5m
- Morocco: US$81.8m
- Slovakia: US$72.9m
- Canada: US$71.6m
- Ireland: US$66.7m
- Slovenia: US$64.4m
- Brazil: US$59.3m
- Peru: US$54m
- Greece: US$49.5m
- Uzbekistan: US$46.6m
- Hungary: US$45m
- Nicaragua: US$44.5m
- Saudi Arabia: US$44.1m
- Nigeria: US$40.5m
- Guatemala: US$40.4m
- Senegal: US$38.4m
- Croatia: US$37.8m
- El Salvador: US$36.9m
- Chile: US$30.2m
- Lithuania: US$24.8m
- Luxembourg: US$24.3m
- Honduras: US$23.5m
- Tunisia: US$22.7m
- Serbia: US$22.5m
- Russia: US$19m
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$18m
- United Arab Emirates: US$17.2m
- Sri Lanka: US$16.6m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$31.2mUS$31.2m+US$161m+US$555.6m+> US$1.3bn
Imports: 218
- Vietnam: US$2.3bn
- Bangladesh: US$2.2bn
- United States: US$1.8bn
- Türkiye: US$1.6bn
- China: US$1.5bn
- Morocco: US$1.3bn
- Germany: US$1.3bn
- Indonesia: US$1.2bn
- Brazil: US$1bn
- Italy: US$987.5m
- India: US$902m
- Pakistan: US$843.1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$830.4m
- Spain: US$814.2m
- Mexico: US$768.5m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$720.1m
- Egypt: US$715.8m
- Poland: US$682.3m
- South Korea: US$581.9m
- Cambodia: US$574.1m
- France: US$567.3m
- Russia: US$555.6m
- Japan: US$507.7m
- Honduras: US$448.8m
- Belgium: US$448.3m
- United Kingdom: US$430.2m
- Netherlands: US$394.3m
- Sri Lanka: US$374.5m
- Saudi Arabia: US$342.2m
- Tunisia: US$340.9m
- Colombia: US$329.1m
- Thailand: US$327.2m
- Czechia: US$301.8m
- Romania: US$299.8m
- Nigeria: US$296.3m
- Canada: US$289.2m
- South Africa: US$258.5m
- Portugal: US$251.7m
- Uzbekistan: US$240.9m
- Malaysia: US$237.7m
- Peru: US$233.6m
- Philippines: US$232.1m
- Kenya: US$225.3m
- Algeria: US$224m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$212.1m
- Iraq: US$204.9m
- Iran: US$203.6m
- Bulgaria: US$197.9m
- Afghanistan: US$185.7m
- Singapore: US$177.6m
- Taiwan: US$167.6m
- Israel: US$164.1m
- Kazakhstan: US$161.5m
- Greece: US$161m
- Argentina: US$158.6m
- Ukraine: US$156.5m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$151m
- Austria: US$144.5m
- Senegal: US$143.3m
- Somalia: US$140.6m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$14.1bn | 37.4% |
| 2 | United States | US$2.3bn | 6.1% |
| 3 |  Indonesia | US$2bn | 5.3% |
| 4 | Türkiye | US$1.7bn | 4.6% |
| 5 |  India | US$1.7bn | 4.5% |
| 6 |  Japan | US$1.6bn | 4.2% |
| 7 |  South Korea | US$1.5bn | 3.9% |
| 8 |  Thailand | US$1.4bn | 3.7% |
| 9 |  Germany | US$1.4bn | 3.6% |
| 10 |  Austria | US$1.1bn | 3% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Vietnam | US$2.3bn | 6.1% |
| 2 |  Bangladesh | US$2.2bn | 5.7% |
| 3 | United States | US$1.8bn | 4.7% |
| 4 | Türkiye | US$1.6bn | 4.3% |
| 5 | China | US$1.5bn | 4% |
| 6 |  Morocco | US$1.3bn | 3.5% |
| 7 | Germany | US$1.3bn | 3.4% |
| 8 | Indonesia | US$1.2bn | 3.1% |
| 9 |  Brazil | US$1bn | 2.8% |
| 10 |  Italy | US$987.5m | 2.6% |
Chapter notes
Note
1. Headings 5501 and 5502 apply only to man-made filament tow, consisting of parallel filaments of a uniform length equal to the length of the tow, meeting the following specifications:
(a) length of tow exceeding 2 m;
(b) twist less than five turns per metre;
(c) measuring per filament less than 67 decitex;
(d) synthetic filament tow only: the tow must be drawn, that is to say, be incapable of being stretched by more than 100 % of its length;
(e) total measurement of tow more than 20000 decitex.
Tow of a length not exceeding 2 m is to be classified in heading 5503 or 5504.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for man-made staple fibres?
Man-made staple fibres make up HS chapter 55, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on man-made staple fibres in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 55 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 8%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on man-made staple fibres in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 55 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4% to 8%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most man-made staple fibres?
China, with US$14.1bn in 2024 (37.4% of world exports).