Subheading · Chapter 56 · Heading 5601

5601.21

5601.21: Wadding of textile materials and articles thereof: of cotton

Official description Of cotton

5601.21 is a six-digit subheading of heading 5601, wadding of textile materials and articles thereof, chapter 56.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 2% standard rate · across 2 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 2 additional measures Import requirements: 2
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 5601 21 00 00 Of cotton
  2. 5601 21 10 00 Absorbent 2%
  3. 5601 21 90 00 Other 2%

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 2

  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    2022 No. 598
    Documents
    • 9014
  • 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 2

  • Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
    Applies to goods from
    Russia, Ukraine
    Legal act
    2023 No. 440, S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9011
    • 9022
    • 9038
    • 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

Preferential rates by country

Agreement or schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—2%
DCTS Comprehensive
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 more

Afghanistan, 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")
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia and 23 more

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Free
DCTS Enhanced
Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 more

Algeria, 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 more

Antigua & 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 more

Anguilla, 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

last 12 months£47.3m-4.6% · previous 12 months
Average import price£4.16 per kg
Jan 2024: £3.8mFeb 2024: £4.4mMar 2024: £3.3mApr 2024: £4.9mMay 2024: £4.3mJun 2024: £4.3mJul 2024: £4.6mAug 2024: £3.9mSept 2024: £3.6mOct 2024: £4.2mNov 2024: £4.2mDec 2024: £4.1mJan 2025: £3.3mFeb 2025: £4.5mMar 2025: £4mApr 2025: £4.1mMay 2025: £4.6mJun 2025: £4.3mJul 2025: £4.6mAug 2025: £4mSept 2025: £4.1mOct 2025: £4.1mNov 2025: £3.7mDec 2025: £3.6mJan 2026: £3.6mFeb 2026: £3.9mMar 2026: £4.5mApr 2026: £4.3mMay 2026: £4.2mJun 2026: £4.1mJul 2026: £4mAug 2026: £3.2m 202420252026
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)

Main suppliers, last 12 months

CountryValueShareChange
Italy £12.1m 25.5% -3.1%
India £6.9m 14.5% +2.1%
Bulgaria £6.8m 14.3% +7.6%
Türkiye £5.4m 11.4% +26.7%
China £4.7m 10% +0.6%
France £3.4m 7.1% -5.3%
Netherlands £2.6m 5.5% +1%
Germany £2.5m 5.2% -39.9%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

5601.21 · US$1bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$184kUS$184k+US$3m+US$20m+> US$69m

Exports: 132
  1. China: US$264m
  2. Germany: US$88m
  3. Türkiye: US$86m
  4. India: US$69m
  5. France: US$57m
  6. Netherlands: US$54m
  7. Italy: US$51m
  8. Uzbekistan: US$50m
  9. Poland: US$40m
  10. Mexico: US$38m
  11. United States: US$29m
  12. Bulgaria: US$27m
  13. Japan: US$20m
  14. Greece: US$20m
  15. Estonia: US$17m
  16. Vietnam: US$17m
  17. Tanzania: US$17m
  18. Thailand: US$12m
  19. Russia: US$8m
  20. Spain: US$8m
  21. Latvia: US$7m
  22. Canada: US$6m
  23. United Kingdom: US$5m
  24. Kazakhstan: US$5m
  25. Croatia: US$4m
  26. Czechia: US$4m
  27. Austria: US$4m
  28. Serbia: US$3m
  29. Brazil: US$3m
  30. Denmark: US$3m
  31. Indonesia: US$3m
  32. Portugal: US$3m
  33. Hungary: US$2m
  34. Belgium: US$2m
  35. Malaysia: US$2m
  36. Singapore: US$2m
  37. South Korea: US$2m
  38. Turkmenistan: US$1m
  39. Sweden: US$1m
  40. Switzerland: US$1m
  41. Hong Kong SAR China: US$1m
  42. Egypt: US$1m
  43. Slovenia: US$1m
  44. Armenia: US$1m
  45. Ukraine: US$988k
  46. South Africa: US$954k
  47. Slovakia: US$843k
  48. Taiwan: US$831k
  49. Cambodia: US$744k
  50. Philippines: US$704k
  51. Dominican Republic: US$487k
  52. Australia: US$451k
  53. Lithuania: US$425k
  54. Pakistan: US$362k
  55. New Zealand: US$361k
  56. Saudi Arabia: US$219k
  57. Argentina: US$217k
  58. Ireland: US$216k
  59. Peru: US$215k
  60. Paraguay: US$200k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$264m 25.1%
2 Germany US$88m 8.4%
3 Türkiye US$86m 8.2%
4 India US$69m 6.6%
5 France US$57m 5.4%
6 Netherlands US$54m 5.1%
7 Italy US$51m 4.8%
8 Uzbekistan US$50m 4.7%
9 Poland US$40m 3.8%
10 Mexico US$38m 3.7%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$119m 11.4%
2 France US$85m 8.1%
3 Germany US$66m 6.3%
4 United Kingdom US$60m 5.7%
5 Russia US$45m 4.3%
6 Japan US$41m 3.9%
7 Canada US$30m 2.8%
8 Spain US$26m 2.5%
9 Netherlands US$25m 2.4%
10 Vietnam US$24m 2.3%

Import duty on this product around the world 164

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.

  • 8.8%median duty
  • 21number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 45%highest: Bahamas, Iran, Algeria

164

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 10% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 10% 2023
Algeria 30% 2023
Angola 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 8.8% 5% – 20% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Aruba 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 8.8% 5% – 20% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 8.8% 5% – 20% 2023
Benin 20% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 5% 2022
Botswana 15% 2023
Brazil 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 20% 2023
Burundi 25% 2023
Cambodia 7% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 30% 2023
Canada 3.5% 0% – 14% 2023
Cape Verde 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 30% 2023
Chad 30% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 8% 2023
Colombia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 30% 2023
Cook Islands 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Costa Rica 4.8% 0% – 14% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 5% 0% – 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 20% 2023
Ecuador 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 5% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 6.3% 0% – 15% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 30% 2023
Eswatini 15% 2023
Ethiopia 20% 10% – 30% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 3.8% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
French Polynesia 8% 2023
Gabon 30% 2023
Gambia 20% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 20% 2023
Gibraltar 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 8.8% 5% – 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 6.3% 0% – 15% 2023
Guinea 20% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 20% 2023
Guyana 8.8% 5% – 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 10% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 6.3% 0% – 15% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 10% 2023
Indonesia 15% 2023
Iran 32% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 5% 0% – 20% 2023
Japan 0% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 5% 2023
Kenya 25%* 2023
Kiribati 30% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 15% 2023
Liberia 20% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 4%* 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 20% 2023
Malawi 13% 0% – 25% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 20% 2023
Maldives 11% 0% – 15% 2023
Mali 20% 2023
Mauritania 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 4% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 16% 15% – 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 20% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 15% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 20% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 6.3% 0% – 15% 2023
Niger 20% 2023
Nigeria 20% 2023
North Macedonia 10% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 11% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 6% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 15% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 25% 2023
Samoa 8% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 10% 2019 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 5% 2023
Senegal 20% 2023
Seychelles 0% 2023
Sierra Leone 20% 2023
Singapore 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Solomon Islands 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Somalia 25% 2023 · HS 2017
South Africa 15% 2023
South Korea 8% 2023
Sri Lanka 1.3%* 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 3.8% 0% – 5% 2023
St Lucia 5% 0% – 20% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 13% 5% – 20% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 8.8% 5% – 20% 2023
Sudan 25% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 8.8% 5% – 20% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 3.8%* 2023
Syria 10% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 5% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 25% 2023
Thailand 5% 2023
Togo 20% 2023
Tonga 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 5% 0% – 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 12% 2023
Tuvalu 23% 2017 · HS 2017
Ukraine 3.8% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 2% 2023
United States 3.6% 2023
Uruguay 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 5% 2023
Venezuela 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 5% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 15% 2023
Zimbabwe 0.4% 2023

Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · 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
65771 Wadding of textile materials & articles thereof; textile fibres not > 5 mm in length (flock), textile dust & mill neps
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 411220
CPC 2.1 product
27991 Wadding of textile materials and articles thereof; textile fibres not exceeding 5 mm in length (flock), textile dust and mill neps
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
1399 Manufacture of other textiles n.e.c.
1709 Manufacture of other articles of paper and paperboard

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20175601.21unchanged
20125601.21unchanged
20075601.21unchanged
20025601.21unchanged
19965601.21unchanged
19925601.21unchanged

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Binding rulings for similar goods 6

Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.

  • N340357 U.S. CBP 18 June 2024 · 5601.21.00.90

    The tariff classification of an electric vaporizer from China

  • N334928 U.S. CBP 20 September 2023 · 5601.21.00.90

    The country of origin determination of cotton swabs; 19 CFR 102.21(c)(2)

  • N330026 U.S. CBP 24 January 2023 · 5601.21.00.90

    The tariff classification of cotton swabs, cotton pads, and an emery board from China.

  • N313260 U.S. CBP 14 August 2020 · 5601.21.00.90

    The tariff classification, country of origin and country of origin marking of cotton pads; 19 CFR 102.21(c)(2); 19 CFR 134

  • N290532 U.S. CBP 20 October 2017 · 5601.21.00.90

    The tariff classification of cotton balls from Turkey and China

  • N290573 U.S. CBP 20 October 2017 · 5601.21.00.90

    The tariff classification of cotton balls from Turkey

In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 5601.21 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is 2%.

The EU Combined Nomenclature divides subheading 5601.21 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is 3.8%.

Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 2%; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.

In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported these goods worth £47.3m (down 5% on the year before), at an average of £4.16 per kg; Italy supplied 26%, followed by India.

World trade in these goods reached US$1bn in 2024, up 1.5% on 2023.

China was the largest exporter with 25.1% of the total, ahead of Germany.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for wadding of textile materials and articles thereof: of cotton?

Wadding of textile materials and articles thereof: of cotton fall under HS subheading 5601.21, part of heading 5601, in section XI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on wadding of textile materials and articles thereof in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 5601.21 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 2%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on wadding of textile materials and articles thereof in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 5601.21 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 3.8%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most wadding of textile materials and articles thereof?

China, with US$264m in 2024 (25.1% 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 2% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.

Is there anti-dumping duty on these goods?

The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.

Where does the UK import these goods from?

In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Italy (26%), India (15%) and Bulgaria (14%), out of total imports of £47.3m.

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Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.