Subheading · Chapter 55 · Heading 5506
5506.40: Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise: of polypropylene
Official description Of polypropylene
Subheading 5506.40 belongs to heading 5506 (synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning) in chapter 55.
What you pay
Importing into UK from Central African Republic
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 5506 40 00 00 Of polypropylene Free
Additional duties and import rulesCentral African Republic
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
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium | £125k | 94.9% | +8% |
 United States | £7k | 5.1% | — |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EUWorld trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$14.3kUS$14.3k+US$351.6k+US$972.3k+> US$5.6m
Exports: 31
- Belgium: US$5.6m
- France: US$1.6m
- Austria: US$972.3k
- South Korea: US$462.8k
- China: US$355.3k
- Türkiye: US$353.8k
- Japan: US$351.6k
- Germany: US$274k
- Spain: US$250k
- Saudi Arabia: US$165.5k
- Switzerland: US$119.9k
- United States: US$25.1k
- Vietnam: US$16.3k
- Italy: US$14.3k
- Netherlands: US$5.1k
- Australia: US$2.9k
- Bulgaria: US$2k
- Mexico: US$1.9k
- Morocco: US$1.8k
- Norway: US$1.3k
- Greece: US$1.2k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$800
- Canada: US$700
- Indonesia: US$500
- Croatia: US$200
- Poland: US$200
- Singapore: US$100
- Sweden: US$100
- India: US$0
- Sri Lanka: US$0
- South Africa: US$0
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$18.6kUS$18.6k+US$96.2k+US$319k+> US$1m
Imports: 53
- Czechia: US$5.4m
- Germany: US$1m
- Switzerland: US$739.1k
- France: US$560.8k
- Angola: US$362k
- Romania: US$319k
- South Korea: US$317.3k
- United Kingdom: US$307.2k
- Honduras: US$250.8k
- Poland: US$183.6k
- Iraq: US$165.5k
- Italy: US$142.9k
- Indonesia: US$139.9k
- Spain: US$96.2k
- India: US$71.6k
- Vietnam: US$47.5k
- Austria: US$43k
- Saudi Arabia: US$41.7k
- China: US$35k
- Türkiye: US$33.3k
- Sri Lanka: US$33.2k
- United States: US$26.6k
- Brazil: US$26.1k
- South Africa: US$23.4k
- Netherlands: US$22.2k
- Tunisia: US$20.2k
- Egypt: US$18.6k
- Greece: US$18.3k
- Thailand: US$15.2k
- Algeria: US$11.7k
- Kazakhstan: US$10.3k
- Ecuador: US$8.7k
- Dominican Republic: US$4.7k
- Malaysia: US$4.3k
- Estonia: US$4.1k
- Colombia: US$3.1k
- Morocco: US$1.9k
- Senegal: US$1.8k
- Nicaragua: US$1.6k
- Guatemala: US$1.3k
- Sweden: US$1.3k
- Bahamas: US$1k
- Philippines: US$1k
- Norway: US$800
- Tanzania: US$700
- Canada: US$600
- Belgium: US$500
- Nigeria: US$500
- Singapore: US$300
- Slovakia: US$200
- Ireland: US$100
- Mongolia: US$100
- Portugal: US$100
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | US$5.6m | 52.8% |
| 2 |  France | US$1.6m | 15.2% |
| 3 |  Austria | US$972.3k | 9.2% |
| 4 |  South Korea | US$462.8k | 4.4% |
| 5 |  China | US$355.3k | 3.4% |
| 6 |  Türkiye | US$353.8k | 3.4% |
| 7 |  Japan | US$351.6k | 3.3% |
| 8 |  Germany | US$274k | 2.6% |
| 9 |  Spain | US$250k | 2.4% |
| 10 |  Saudi Arabia | US$165.5k | 1.6% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Czechia | US$5.4m | 51.2% |
| 2 | Germany | US$1m | 9.8% |
| 3 |  Switzerland | US$739.1k | 7% |
| 4 | France | US$560.8k | 5.3% |
| 5 |  Angola | US$362k | 3.4% |
| 6 |  Romania | US$319k | 3% |
| 7 | South Korea | US$317.3k | 3% |
| 8 | United Kingdom | US$307.2k | 2.9% |
| 9 |  Honduras | US$250.8k | 2.4% |
| 10 |  Poland | US$183.6k | 1.7% |
Code history
Since 2017; before, these goods were classified under 5506.90.
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 5506.40; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 5506.40 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 4%.
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 £131.2k between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 14% on the year before); Belgium supplied 95%, followed by United States.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$10.6m (−10.3% year on year).
The largest exporter was Belgium (US$5.6m), followed by France.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise: of polypropylene?
Synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or otherwise: of polypropylene fall under HS subheading 5506.40, part of heading 5506, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on synthetic staple fibres, carded, combed or… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5506.40 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 staple fibres, carded, combed or… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5506.40 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 staple fibres, carded, combed or…?
Belgium, with US$5.6m in 2024 (52.8% 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 (95%) and United States (5%), out of total imports of £131.2k.