Heading · Section XI
5508: Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale
- FreeUK
- 4%–5%EU
- 100%Türkiye
- 11%–11.4%USA
- US$613mWorld trade in 2024
Heading 5508 is divided into 2 six-digit subheadings and sits in chapter 55, man-made staple fibres.
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 statutory rate is 100%.
In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, heading 5508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is between 11% and 11.4%.
In 2024, countries exported heading 5508 goods worth US$613m (+0.1% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$378.2m), followed by Egypt.
The biggest buyer was Vietnam, with imports of US$43.8m.
The United Kingdom ranked 42nd among 127 exporters with US$741.7k.
The United Kingdom imported US$3.5m.
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
EU 4% – 5% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 4.5% 
Türkiye 100% Statutory rate (Law 474) 6 tariff lines 
USA 11% – 11.4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 11.2% The Turkish schedule prints the statutory rate set under Customs Law 474. The rate applied at import is laid down in the Import Regime Decision and can be lower, or different by country of origin.
Subheadings 2
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$146.5kUS$146.5k+US$2.3m+US$6m+> US$19.6m
Exports: 127
- China: US$378.2m
- Egypt: US$29.3m
- Türkiye: US$22.8m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$19.6m
- United States: US$14.6m
- Germany: US$14.6m
- Vietnam: US$12.9m
- Indonesia: US$10.6m
- South Korea: US$9.8m
- Honduras: US$7.8m
- France: US$7.1m
- India: US$6m
- Guatemala: US$5.6m
- Israel: US$4.4m
- Netherlands: US$4.3m
- Japan: US$4.2m
- Sri Lanka: US$4m
- Romania: US$3.9m
- Spain: US$3.7m
- Italy: US$3.2m
- Oman: US$3.1m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Thailand: US$2.8m
- Costa Rica: US$2.8m
- Malaysia: US$2.8m
- El Salvador: US$2.5m
- Taiwan: US$2.5m
- Czechia: US$2.3m
- Hungary: US$2.3m
- Belgium: US$1.9m
- Poland: US$1.8m
- Brazil: US$1.7m
- Austria: US$1.5m
- Mexico: US$1.4m
- Bangladesh: US$1.3m
- Tunisia: US$1.2m
- Cambodia: US$1.1m
- Slovenia: US$1.1m
- Morocco: US$962.5k
- Denmark: US$902.1k
- Bulgaria: US$796k
- United Kingdom: US$741.7k
- Canada: US$738.3k
- Greece: US$720k
- Pakistan: US$417.6k
- United Arab Emirates: US$373.4k
- Colombia: US$323.1k
- South Africa: US$276.9k
- Lithuania: US$257.8k
- Togo: US$219.6k
- Russia: US$207.3k
- Kenya: US$204.1k
- Jordan: US$199.9k
- Latvia: US$158k
- Sweden: US$151.7k
- Slovakia: US$146.5k
- Moldova: US$135.9k
- Switzerland: US$133.5k
- Singapore: US$125k
- North Macedonia: US$108.4k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$936.9kUS$936.9k+US$2.8m+US$9m+> US$19.4m
Imports: 190
- Vietnam: US$43.8m
- Cambodia: US$39.9m
- Türkiye: US$32.3m
- Russia: US$30.5m
- Bangladesh: US$24.3m
- Indonesia: US$19.4m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$18.2m
- Iran: US$15.1m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$14.8m
- Ghana: US$13.9m
- Mexico: US$13.4m
- Morocco: US$12.9m
- Germany: US$12.7m
- Costa Rica: US$12.2m
- Peru: US$10.9m
- United States: US$10.8m
- Egypt: US$10.1m
- Guatemala: US$9.3m
- Nigeria: US$9m
- Japan: US$8.9m
- Tunisia: US$8.5m
- Brazil: US$8m
- Jordan: US$7.8m
- Kenya: US$7.8m
- United Arab Emirates: US$7.7m
- Romania: US$7.6m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$7.6m
- Colombia: US$7.3m
- Argentina: US$7.1m
- Poland: US$6.9m
- South Africa: US$6.4m
- Italy: US$6.2m
- Georgia: US$5.8m
- France: US$5.3m
- Spain: US$5.2m
- Ukraine: US$4.8m
- Ethiopia: US$4.5m
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$4.3m
- El Salvador: US$4.2m
- Saudi Arabia: US$4.2m
- Netherlands: US$3.9m
- Uzbekistan: US$3.7m
- United Kingdom: US$3.5m
- Togo: US$3.3m
- Oman: US$3m
- Thailand: US$3m
- Bulgaria: US$3m
- Hungary: US$2.8m
- Benin: US$2.6m
- Pakistan: US$2.6m
- Israel: US$2.5m
- Serbia: US$2.4m
- Belgium: US$2.4m
- Senegal: US$2.3m
- Ecuador: US$2.2m
- Philippines: US$2.2m
- Greece: US$2.1m
- Dominican Republic: US$2.1m
- Madagascar: US$2.1m
- Venezuela: US$2.1m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$378.2m | 61.7% |
| 2 |  Egypt | US$29.3m | 4.8% |
| 3 | Türkiye | US$22.8m | 3.7% |
| 4 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$19.6m | 3.2% |
| 5 | United States | US$14.6m | 2.4% |
| 6 |  Germany | US$14.6m | 2.4% |
| 7 |  Vietnam | US$12.9m | 2.1% |
| 8 |  Indonesia | US$10.6m | 1.7% |
| 9 |  South Korea | US$9.8m | 1.6% |
| 10 |  Honduras | US$7.8m | 1.3% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnam | US$43.8m | 7.1% |
| 2 |  Cambodia | US$39.9m | 6.5% |
| 3 | Türkiye | US$32.3m | 5.3% |
| 4 |  Russia | US$30.5m | 5% |
| 5 |  Bangladesh | US$24.3m | 4% |
| 6 | Indonesia | US$19.4m | 3.2% |
| 7 | Hong Kong SAR China | US$18.2m | 3% |
| 8 |  Iran | US$15.1m | 2.5% |
| 9 |  Kyrgyzstan | US$14.8m | 2.4% |
| 10 |  Ghana | US$13.9m | 2.3% |
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$378.2m in 2024 (61.7% of world exports).