Subheading · Chapter 62 · Heading 6213

6213.20

6213.20: Handkerchiefs, of cotton

Official description Of cotton

Subheading 6213.20 belongs to heading 6213 (handkerchiefs) in chapter 62.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 10% standard rate · across 2 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges — Import requirements: 3
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 6213 20 00 00 Of cotton 10%p/st
  2. 6213 20 00 10 Hand-made 10%p/st
  3. 6213 20 00 90 Other 10%p/st

Additional duties and import rules

Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.

Import requirements 3

  • Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
    Applies to goods from
    Ukraine
    Legal act
    S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 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
  • Import controlImport control on luxury goods
    Applies to goods from
    North Korea
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/411
    Documents
    • Y945 Travellers' personal effects or goods of a non-commercial nature for travellers' personal use contained in their luggage (Art 10.2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509)
    • Y946 Goods necessary for the official purposes of diplomatic or consular missions of Member States in the DPRK or international organisations enjoying immunities in accordance with international law, or to the personal effects of their staff (Art 10.3 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1509)
    • Y948 Goods other than those described in Annex VIII (Luxury goods) of Reg. (EU) 2017/1509

Preferential rates by country

Agreement or schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—10%
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
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
DCTS Standard Indonesia 8%

UK: imports by month

last 12 months£1.6m-1.1% · previous 12 months
Average import price£15.32 per kg
Jan 2024: £67kFeb 2024: £172kMar 2024: £113kApr 2024: £115kMay 2024: £122kJun 2024: £127kJul 2024: £125kAug 2024: £158kSept 2024: £142kOct 2024: £108kNov 2024: £130kDec 2024: £211kJan 2025: £69kFeb 2025: £94kMar 2025: £181kApr 2025: £32kMay 2025: £157kJun 2025: £213kJul 2025: £116kAug 2025: £180kSept 2025: £180kOct 2025: £271kNov 2025: £166kDec 2025: £131kJan 2026: £121kFeb 2026: £90kMar 2026: £82kApr 2026: £172kMay 2026: £39kJun 2026: £120kJul 2026: £97kAug 2026: £146k 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
China £1.3m 79.1% +1.2%
India £116k 7.2% -26.2%
Japan £46k 2.8% -18.4%
Italy £41k 2.6% +8.1%
Cambodia £36k 2.2% —
Malaysia £26k 1.6% -24.3%
Pakistan £23k 1.4% +41%
Switzerland £12k 0.8% +872.1%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

6213.20 · US$81m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$18kUS$18k+US$205k+US$1m+> US$3m

Exports: 114
  1. China: US$47m
  2. India: US$7m
  3. United States: US$3m
  4. United Kingdom: US$3m
  5. Russia: US$2m
  6. Malaysia: US$2m
  7. Italy: US$2m
  8. Germany: US$2m
  9. Thailand: US$1m
  10. Japan: US$1m
  11. Armenia: US$1m
  12. Uzbekistan: US$1m
  13. France: US$935k
  14. Vietnam: US$878k
  15. Türkiye: US$762k
  16. South Korea: US$611k
  17. Netherlands: US$520k
  18. Bangladesh: US$419k
  19. Myanmar (Burma): US$401k
  20. Switzerland: US$393k
  21. Spain: US$366k
  22. Pakistan: US$290k
  23. Serbia: US$287k
  24. Poland: US$237k
  25. Lithuania: US$210k
  26. Kuwait: US$205k
  27. Czechia: US$191k
  28. Belgium: US$167k
  29. Portugal: US$167k
  30. South Africa: US$140k
  31. Madagascar: US$137k
  32. Sweden: US$125k
  33. Tunisia: US$120k
  34. Morocco: US$112k
  35. Mauritius: US$68k
  36. Singapore: US$66k
  37. Austria: US$62k
  38. Hong Kong SAR China: US$61k
  39. Philippines: US$58k
  40. Denmark: US$51k
  41. Australia: US$49k
  42. United Arab Emirates: US$39k
  43. Canada: US$38k
  44. Taiwan: US$33k
  45. Sri Lanka: US$30k
  46. Croatia: US$27k
  47. Indonesia: US$24k
  48. Bulgaria: US$22k
  49. Ireland: US$21k
  50. Kazakhstan: US$21k
  51. Moldova: US$19k
  52. Chile: US$18k
  53. Peru: US$17k
  54. Honduras: US$16k
  55. Colombia: US$15k
  56. Romania: US$13k
  57. Latvia: US$13k
  58. El Salvador: US$11k
  59. Luxembourg: US$11k
  60. North Macedonia: US$10k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$47m 58.2%
2 India US$7m 8.2%
3 United States US$3m 4%
4 United Kingdom US$3m 3.8%
5 Russia US$2m 2.9%
6 Malaysia US$2m 2.5%
7 Italy US$2m 2.3%
8 Germany US$2m 2%
9 Thailand US$1m 1.5%
10 Japan US$1m 1.4%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$12m 15.4%
2 Japan US$10m 12.1%
3 Kyrgyzstan US$10m 11.8%
4 Ghana US$6m 7.2%
5 Saudi Arabia US$5m 6.6%
6 Germany US$3m 4%
7 Armenia US$2m 3%
8 France US$2m 2.9%
9 Kazakhstan US$2m 2.5%
10 United Kingdom US$2m 2.4%

Import duty on this product around the world 163

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.

  • 18%median duty
  • 15number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 60%highest: Kiribati, Zimbabwe, Iran

163

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 10% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 0% 2023
Algeria 30% 2023
Angola 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 20% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 35% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 18% 2023
Aruba 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 5% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 20% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 20% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 18% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 20% 2023
Benin 20% 2023
Bermuda 6.5% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 40% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 15% 2022
Botswana 30% 2023
Brazil 35% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 20% 2023
Burundi 25% 2023
Cambodia 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 30% 2023
Canada 9% 2023
Cape Verde 40% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 30% 2023
Chad 30% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 6% 2023
Colombia 40% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 30% 2023
Cook Islands 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Costa Rica 14% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 20% 2023
Ecuador 39%* 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 40% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 15% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 30% 2023
Eswatini 30% 2023
Ethiopia 35% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 10% 2023
Fiji 0% 2023
French Polynesia 15% 2023
Gabon 30% 2023
Gambia 20% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 20% 2023
Gibraltar 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 15% 2023
Guinea 20% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 20% 2023
Guyana 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 10% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 15% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 20% 2023
Indonesia 24% 23% – 25% 2023
Iran 55% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 20% 2023
Japan 6.7% 2023
Jordan 5% 2023
Kazakhstan 15% 2023
Kenya 35% 2023
Kiribati 60% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 18% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 30% 2023
Liberia 20% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 9.3%* 8.5% – 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 20% 2023
Malawi 25% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 0% 2023
Mali 20% 2023
Mauritania 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 40% 2023
Mozambique 20% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 30% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 20% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 15% 2023
Niger 20% 2023
Nigeria 20% 2023
North Macedonia 18% 2023
Norway 5.6% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 20% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 6% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 10% 2023
Papua New Guinea 15% 2023
Paraguay 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 11% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 15% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 18% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 25% 2023
Samoa 20% 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 30% 2023
South Korea 8% 2023
Sri Lanka 1.6%* 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 25% 2023
St Lucia 20% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 5% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 20% 2023
Sudan 40% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 20% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 11%* 9.9% – 12% 2023
Syria 30% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 20% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 25% 2023
Thailand 30% 2023
Togo 20% 2023
Tonga 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 16% 2023
Tuvalu 19% 2017 · HS 2017
Ukraine 10% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 10% 2023
United States 10% 7.1% – 13% 2023
Uruguay 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 15% 2023
Venezuela 35% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 20% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 10% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 25% 2023
Zimbabwe 56%* 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
84611 Handkerchiefs, not knitted/crocheted
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Consumption goods · BEC 413202
CPC 2.1 product
28238 Handkerchiefs, shawls, scarves, veils, ties, cravats, gloves and other made-up clothing accessories, of textile fabric, not knitted or crocheted; parts of garments or of clothing accessories, of textile fabric, not knitted or crocheted n.e.c.
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
1410 Manufacture of wearing apparel, except fur apparel

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20176213.20unchanged
20126213.20unchanged
20076213.20unchanged
20026213.20unchanged
19966213.20unchanged
19926213.20unchanged

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Binding rulings for similar goods 1

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.

  • N277766 U.S. CBP 25 August 2016 · 6213.20.10.00

    The tariff classification of bandanas from China

The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 6213.20 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is 10%.

Subheading 6213.20 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 10%.

173 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 10%.

Imports of these goods into the UK came to £1.6m between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 1% on the year before); China supplied 79%, followed by India.

In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$81m (−3.6% year on year).

The largest exporter was China (US$47m), followed by India.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for handkerchiefs, of cotton?

Handkerchiefs, of cotton fall under HS subheading 6213.20, part of heading 6213, in section XI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on handkerchiefs, of cotton in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 6213.20 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 10%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on handkerchiefs, of cotton in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 6213.20 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 10%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most handkerchiefs, of cotton?

China, with US$47m in 2024 (58.2% of world exports).

Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?

173 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 10% 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 China (79%), India (7%) and Japan (3%), out of total imports of £1.6m.

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Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.