Heading · Chapter 55
5503: Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning
6 subheadings make up heading 5503 in chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres).
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
EU 4% Third-country duty 6 tariff lines 
Türkiye 4% Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
USA Free – 4.3% General (MFN) 8 tariff lines · average 3.2% 
Canada Free General (MFN) 11 tariff lines 
Mexico Free – 30% General (MFN) 11 tariff lines · average 24.6% 
Brazil Free – 16% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines · average 7.4% 
Argentina Free – 16% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines · average 6.6% 
Peru Free – 6% General (MFN) 8 tariff lines · average 0.8% 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Japan 4% – 6.6% General (MFN) 8 tariff lines · average 6% 
Taiwan 1.5% General (MFN) 7 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines Subheadings 6
- 5503.11Of nylon or other polyamides: of aramids
- 5503.19Of nylon or other polyamides: other
- 5503.20Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise: of polyestersPolyester staple fibre
- 5503.30Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise: acrylic or modacrylic
- 5503.40Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise: of polypropylene
- 5503.90Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise: other
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2mUS$2m+US$33m+US$231m+> US$323m
Exports: 116
- China: US$1.7bn
- South Korea: US$896m
- Thailand: US$608m
- Japan: US$323m
- Taiwan: US$315m
- India: US$313m
- Türkiye: US$301m
- Belgium: US$282m
- Indonesia: US$276m
- United States: US$267m
- Vietnam: US$232m
- Germany: US$231m
- Malaysia: US$135m
- Italy: US$111m
- Denmark: US$105m
- Netherlands: US$86m
- Spain: US$80m
- France: US$76m
- Austria: US$68m
- Ireland: US$61m
- Romania: US$60m
- Switzerland: US$42m
- Morocco: US$42m
- South Africa: US$39m
- Nigeria: US$39m
- Portugal: US$38m
- Egypt: US$33m
- Saudi Arabia: US$33m
- Uzbekistan: US$33m
- Mexico: US$32m
- United Kingdom: US$32m
- Czechia: US$29m
- Bulgaria: US$27m
- Poland: US$24m
- Luxembourg: US$22m
- Ghana: US$16m
- Greece: US$13m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$10m
- Peru: US$9m
- Bangladesh: US$8m
- Iran: US$7m
- Lithuania: US$6m
- Hungary: US$5m
- Colombia: US$5m
- Canada: US$5m
- Brazil: US$5m
- Algeria: US$4m
- Turkmenistan: US$4m
- Slovakia: US$4m
- Belarus: US$4m
- Honduras: US$3m
- Ukraine: US$3m
- Tunisia: US$3m
- Pakistan: US$3m
- Russia: US$3m
- Slovenia: US$3m
- Paraguay: US$2m
- Argentina: US$2m
- Mozambique: US$2m
- Israel: US$1m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2mUS$2m+US$20m+US$123m+> US$283m
Imports: 198
- United States: US$810m
- Vietnam: US$464m
- China: US$428m
- Germany: US$409m
- Türkiye: US$339m
- Pakistan: US$283m
- Italy: US$277m
- Brazil: US$254m
- Spain: US$220m
- Mexico: US$198m
- India: US$190m
- United Kingdom: US$176m
- Indonesia: US$176m
- Poland: US$175m
- Netherlands: US$175m
- Bangladesh: US$168m
- Japan: US$167m
- France: US$153m
- Belgium: US$149m
- Russia: US$123m
- Canada: US$122m
- Thailand: US$95m
- Egypt: US$74m
- Israel: US$71m
- Czechia: US$71m
- Taiwan: US$63m
- Malaysia: US$60m
- Morocco: US$58m
- Slovenia: US$52m
- Nepal: US$48m
- Slovakia: US$45m
- Australia: US$44m
- Peru: US$40m
- South Korea: US$40m
- Romania: US$38m
- Bulgaria: US$36m
- Philippines: US$36m
- Colombia: US$33m
- Mozambique: US$33m
- Portugal: US$33m
- Saudi Arabia: US$32m
- Finland: US$32m
- Lithuania: US$28m
- Hungary: US$28m
- South Africa: US$28m
- Uzbekistan: US$28m
- Ukraine: US$24m
- United Arab Emirates: US$24m
- Guatemala: US$22m
- Argentina: US$20m
- New Zealand: US$18m
- Chile: US$17m
- El Salvador: US$17m
- Sweden: US$17m
- Honduras: US$17m
- Switzerland: US$16m
- Greece: US$16m
- Nicaragua: US$16m
- Estonia: US$16m
- North Korea: US$15m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$1.7bn | 24.1% |
| 2 |  South Korea | US$896m | 12.5% |
| 3 |  Thailand | US$608m | 8.5% |
| 4 | Japan | US$323m | 4.5% |
| 5 | Taiwan | US$315m | 4.4% |
| 6 |  India | US$313m | 4.4% |
| 7 | Türkiye | US$301m | 4.2% |
| 8 |  Belgium | US$282m | 3.9% |
| 9 |  Indonesia | US$276m | 3.9% |
| 10 | United States | US$267m | 3.7% |
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 5503 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 5503 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is 4%.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 5503 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is 4%.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 5503 into 8 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 4.3% (average 3.2%). 2 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 5503 covers 11 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) divides heading 5503 into 11 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 30% (average 24.6%). 2 of them are duty-free.
In the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), heading 5503 covers 10 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 16%. 5 of them are duty-free.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 5503 into 10 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 16% (average 6.6%). 5 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Peru, heading 5503 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6%. 7 of them are duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand divides heading 5503 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 5503 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is between 4% and 6.6%.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 5503 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is 1.5%.
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 5503 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 5503 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway, heading 5503 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 5503 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), heading 5503 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is 10%.
World trade in heading 5503 goods reached US$7.2bn in 2024, up 2.5% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 24.1% of the total, ahead of South Korea.
The United States imported the most (US$810m).
The United Kingdom ranked 31st among 116 exporters with US$32m.
The United Kingdom imported US$176m.
Legal 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.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning?
Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning fall under HS heading 5503, part of chapter 55, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on synthetic staple fibres in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5503 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 staple fibres in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5503 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 staple fibres?
China, with US$1.7bn in 2024 (24.1% of world exports).