Subheading · Chapter 55 · Heading 5501
5501.40: Synthetic filament tow, of polypropylene
Official description Of polypropylene
5501.40 is a six-digit subheading of heading 5501, synthetic filament tow, chapter 55.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 5501 40 00 00 Of polypropylene Free
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 1
- 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) | — | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
 Denmark | £86k | 78.7% | — |
 United States | £7k | 6.8% | +18.3% |
 Italy | £6k | 5.9% | +14.9% |
 China | £5k | 5% | -84.2% |
 Belgium | £4k | 3.7% | — |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA 7.5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico 25% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 14.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 16% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan 6.6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 1.5% 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 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$33kUS$33k+US$102k+US$1m+> US$6m
Exports: 41
- South Korea: US$13m
- China: US$6m
- South Africa: US$2m
- United States: US$1m
- Austria: US$601k
- Germany: US$323k
- Tanzania: US$197k
- Japan: US$153k
- United Kingdom: US$124k
- Thailand: US$102k
- India: US$84k
- Greece: US$84k
- Portugal: US$84k
- Italy: US$66k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$61k
- Spain: US$58k
- Türkiye: US$54k
- Netherlands: US$45k
- Malaysia: US$33k
- Luxembourg: US$31k
- Taiwan: US$28k
- Nigeria: US$19k
- Brazil: US$18k
- France: US$16k
- Czechia: US$14k
- Belgium: US$12k
- Bulgaria: US$7k
- Slovenia: US$3k
- Singapore: US$3k
- Denmark: US$2k
- Poland: US$2k
- Russia: US$1k
- Egypt: US$500
- Finland: US$400
- Canada: US$300
- Indonesia: US$200
- Slovakia: US$200
- United Arab Emirates: US$0
- Switzerland: US$0
- Honduras: US$0
- Kenya: US$0
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$24kUS$24k+US$194k+US$526k+> US$2m
Imports: 95
- Kenya: US$8m
- Tanzania: US$5m
- China: US$2m
- United States: US$1m
- France: US$1m
- Uganda: US$942k
- Türkiye: US$727k
- Haiti: US$694k
- Japan: US$527k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$473k
- Brazil: US$455k
- Vietnam: US$431k
- Malaysia: US$352k
- Pakistan: US$286k
- North Korea: US$255k
- Nigeria: US$249k
- South Africa: US$246k
- Indonesia: US$234k
- Togo: US$227k
- Zambia: US$214k
- India: US$202k
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$194k
- Philippines: US$186k
- Taiwan: US$140k
- Russia: US$138k
- South Korea: US$131k
- Canada: US$131k
- Bangladesh: US$130k
- Spain: US$120k
- United Kingdom: US$99k
- Cameroon: US$91k
- Slovenia: US$88k
- Cambodia: US$78k
- Thailand: US$68k
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$63k
- Australia: US$58k
- Paraguay: US$57k
- Czechia: US$53k
- Zimbabwe: US$51k
- Kazakhstan: US$45k
- Tunisia: US$39k
- Italy: US$28k
- Belgium: US$25k
- Singapore: US$25k
- Rwanda: US$23k
- Israel: US$23k
- Germany: US$23k
- Nicaragua: US$20k
- Netherlands: US$17k
- Trinidad & Tobago: US$16k
- Portugal: US$10k
- United Arab Emirates: US$10k
- Iraq: US$10k
- Chile: US$9k
- Romania: US$9k
- Honduras: US$8k
- Kuwait: US$7k
- Qatar: US$7k
- Croatia: US$6k
- Ireland: US$5k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  South Korea | US$13m | 53% |
| 2 | China | US$6m | 25.3% |
| 3 |  South Africa | US$2m | 7.1% |
| 4 | United States | US$1m | 5.8% |
| 5 |  Austria | US$601k | 2.4% |
| 6 |  Germany | US$323k | 1.3% |
| 7 |  Tanzania | US$197k | 0.8% |
| 8 | Japan | US$153k | 0.6% |
| 9 | United Kingdom | US$124k | 0.5% |
| 10 |  Thailand | US$102k | 0.4% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Kenya | US$8m | 30.1% |
| 2 | Tanzania | US$5m | 18.1% |
| 3 | China | US$2m | 7.2% |
| 4 | United States | US$1m | 5.9% |
| 5 |  France | US$1m | 4% |
| 6 |  Uganda | US$942k | 3.7% |
| 7 | Türkiye | US$727k | 2.9% |
| 8 |  Haiti | US$694k | 2.7% |
| 9 | Japan | US$527k | 2.1% |
| 10 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$473k | 1.9% |
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.
- 5%median duty
- 60number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Comoros, Argentina
163
| 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 | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 5% | 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 | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 10% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 5% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 0% | 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 | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 0% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 4% | 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 | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
 India | 5% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 6.6% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 5% | 2023 | |
| Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 5% | 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 | 7.5% | 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 | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 11% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 3% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 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 | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 8% | 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 | 3% | 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 | 10% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 4% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
| Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 5% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. · 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
- 26669 Synthetic filament tow, n.e.s.
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 411210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 35510 Synthetic filament tow and staple fibres, not carded or combed
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2030 Manufacture of man-made fibres
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5501.40 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 5501.40 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 5501.40 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 5501.90 | changed |
| 1996 | 5501.90 | changed |
| 1992 | 5501.90 | 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.
- Sanctions · Applies from:
The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
S.I. 2026/543 · Source: legislation.gov.uk
Subheading 5501.40 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 5501.40; the duty is 4%.
Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard Free; 174 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 £109.1k (up 137% on the year before), at an average of £4.25 per kg; Denmark supplied 79%, followed by United States.
World trade in these goods reached US$25m in 2024, down 21.5% on 2023.
South Korea was the largest exporter with 53% of the total, ahead of China.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for synthetic filament tow, of polypropylene?
Synthetic filament tow, of polypropylene fall under HS subheading 5501.40, part of heading 5501, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on synthetic filament tow, of polypropylene in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5501.40 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 synthetic filament tow, of polypropylene in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5501.40 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most synthetic filament tow, of polypropylene?
South Korea, with US$13m in 2024 (53% 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 Denmark (79%), United States (7%) and Italy (6%), out of total imports of £109.1k.