Heading · Chapter 55
5508: Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale
Heading 5508 is divided into 2 six-digit subheadings and sits in chapter 55, man-made staple fibres.
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
EU 4% – 5% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 4.5% 
Türkiye 4% – 5% Third-country duty 6 tariff lines · average 4.3% 
USA 11% – 11.4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 11.2% 
Canada Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Mexico 25% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Brazil 18% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Argentina 12% – 16% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 14% 
Peru 6% – 11% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 8.5% 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 8 tariff lines 
Japan 4% – 6.6% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 5.7% 
Taiwan 4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines Subheadings 2
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$147kUS$147k+US$2m+US$6m+> US$20m
Exports: 127
- China: US$378m
- Egypt: US$29m
- Türkiye: US$23m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$20m
- United States: US$15m
- Germany: US$15m
- Vietnam: US$13m
- Indonesia: US$11m
- South Korea: US$10m
- Honduras: US$8m
- France: US$7m
- India: US$6m
- Guatemala: US$6m
- Israel: US$4m
- Netherlands: US$4m
- Japan: US$4m
- Sri Lanka: US$4m
- Romania: US$4m
- Spain: US$4m
- Italy: US$3m
- Oman: US$3m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Thailand: US$3m
- Costa Rica: US$3m
- Malaysia: US$3m
- El Salvador: US$2m
- Taiwan: US$2m
- Czechia: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Poland: US$2m
- Brazil: US$2m
- Austria: US$2m
- Mexico: US$1m
- Bangladesh: US$1m
- Tunisia: US$1m
- Cambodia: US$1m
- Slovenia: US$1m
- Morocco: US$963k
- Denmark: US$902k
- Bulgaria: US$796k
- United Kingdom: US$742k
- Canada: US$738k
- Greece: US$720k
- Pakistan: US$418k
- United Arab Emirates: US$373k
- Colombia: US$323k
- South Africa: US$277k
- Lithuania: US$258k
- Togo: US$220k
- Russia: US$207k
- Kenya: US$204k
- Jordan: US$200k
- Latvia: US$158k
- Sweden: US$152k
- Slovakia: US$147k
- Moldova: US$136k
- Switzerland: US$134k
- Singapore: US$125k
- North Macedonia: US$108k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$937kUS$937k+US$3m+US$9m+> US$19m
Imports: 190
- Vietnam: US$44m
- Cambodia: US$40m
- Türkiye: US$32m
- Russia: US$30m
- Bangladesh: US$24m
- Indonesia: US$19m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$18m
- Iran: US$15m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$15m
- Ghana: US$14m
- Mexico: US$13m
- Morocco: US$13m
- Germany: US$13m
- Costa Rica: US$12m
- Peru: US$11m
- United States: US$11m
- Egypt: US$10m
- Guatemala: US$9m
- Nigeria: US$9m
- Japan: US$9m
- Tunisia: US$8m
- Brazil: US$8m
- Jordan: US$8m
- Kenya: US$8m
- United Arab Emirates: US$8m
- Romania: US$8m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$8m
- Colombia: US$7m
- Argentina: US$7m
- Poland: US$7m
- South Africa: US$6m
- Italy: US$6m
- Georgia: US$6m
- France: US$5m
- Spain: US$5m
- Ukraine: US$5m
- Ethiopia: US$5m
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$4m
- El Salvador: US$4m
- Saudi Arabia: US$4m
- Netherlands: US$4m
- Uzbekistan: US$4m
- United Kingdom: US$4m
- Togo: US$3m
- Oman: US$3m
- Thailand: US$3m
- Bulgaria: US$3m
- Hungary: US$3m
- Benin: US$3m
- Pakistan: US$3m
- Israel: US$3m
- Serbia: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- Senegal: US$2m
- Ecuador: US$2m
- Philippines: US$2m
- Greece: US$2m
- Dominican Republic: US$2m
- Madagascar: US$2m
- Venezuela: US$2m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$378m | 61.7% |
| 2 |  Egypt | US$29m | 4.8% |
| 3 | Türkiye | US$23m | 3.7% |
| 4 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$20m | 3.2% |
| 5 | United States | US$15m | 2.4% |
| 6 |  Germany | US$15m | 2.4% |
| 7 |  Vietnam | US$13m | 2.1% |
| 8 |  Indonesia | US$11m | 1.7% |
| 9 |  South Korea | US$10m | 1.6% |
| 10 |  Honduras | US$8m | 1.3% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnam | US$44m | 7.1% |
| 2 |  Cambodia | US$40m | 6.5% |
| 3 | Türkiye | US$32m | 5.3% |
| 4 |  Russia | US$30m | 5% |
| 5 |  Bangladesh | US$24m | 4% |
| 6 | Indonesia | US$19m | 3.2% |
| 7 | Hong Kong SAR China | US$18m | 3% |
| 8 |  Iran | US$15m | 2.5% |
| 9 |  Kyrgyzstan | US$15m | 2.4% |
| 10 |  Ghana | US$14m | 2.3% |
The UK Global Tariff divides heading 5508 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, heading 5508 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is between 4% and 5%.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule divides heading 5508 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is between 4% and 5% (average 4.3%).
In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, heading 5508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is between 11% and 11.4%.
The Customs Tariff of Canada divides heading 5508 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Mexican Tariff (TIGIE), heading 5508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is 25%.
The Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC) divides heading 5508 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is 18%.
In the Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM), heading 5508 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is between 12% and 16%.
The Customs Tariff of Peru divides heading 5508 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is between 6% and 11% (average 8.5%).
In the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand, heading 5508 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan divides heading 5508 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is between 4% and 6.6% (average 5.7%).
In the Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan, heading 5508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is 4%.
The GCC Common Customs Tariff divides heading 5508 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is 5%.
In the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), heading 5508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Norway divides heading 5508 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of North Macedonia, heading 5508 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 5%. 2 of them are duty-free.
The ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria) divides heading 5508 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is 10%.
In 2024, countries exported heading 5508 goods worth US$613m (+0.1% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$378m), followed by Egypt.
The biggest buyer was Vietnam, with imports of US$44m.
The United Kingdom ranked 42nd among 127 exporters with US$742k.
The United Kingdom imported US$4m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale?
Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale fall under HS heading 5508, part of chapter 55, in section XI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on sewing thread of man-made staple fibres in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5508 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 sewing thread of man-made staple fibres in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5508 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 staple fibres?
China, with US$378m in 2024 (61.7% of world exports).