Heading 5109

Yarn of wool or of fine animal hair, put up for retail sale

8 declarable lines

Heading 5109 covers yarn of wool or of fine animal hair that is put up for retail sale, meaning packaged for sale to the final buyer rather than in bulk for manufacturing. The heading splits first by fiber content: subheading 5109.10 for yarn containing 85% or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair, and 5109.90 for all other yarn in this category. Each of those splits further by whether the yarn is colored and cut into short uniform lengths, whether it is of Angora rabbit hair, and whether the wool fiber has an average diameter of 18.5 microns or less.

Products in this heading

Retail skeins of 100% wool hand-knitting yarn
Merino wool yarn in small balls or hanks for retail sale
Angora rabbit hair yarn packaged for retail sale
Dyed wool yarn cut into uniform lengths of not over 8 cm for retail sale
Blended wool yarn for retail sale with less than 85% wool by weight
Fine animal hair yarn, such as cashmere or alpaca, put up for retail sale

How to choose the right subheading

Fiber content by weight: whether wool or fine animal hair is 85% or more decides between 5109.10 and 5109.90.
Whether the yarn is colored (dyed or printed) and cut into uniform lengths of not over 8 cm.
Whether the yarn is of Angora rabbit hair.
Average fiber diameter of the wool, since 18.5 microns or less gets its own line.
Retail packaging: the yarn must be put up for retail sale to fall in this heading at all.

Often confused with

Carded wool yarn sold in bulk cones for factory knitting
Not put up for retail sale, so it stays in the bulk yarn heading.
Heading 5106
Combed wool yarn sold in bulk for manufacturing
Retail packaging is the factor that moves yarn into heading 5109.
Heading 5107
Fine animal hair yarn not put up for retail sale
Bulk yarn of fine animal hair is classified outside heading 5109.
Heading 5108
Woven fabric made from combed wool yarn
Finished fabric is classified as fabric, not as yarn.
Heading 5112
Woven fabric made from carded wool yarn
The yarn is already converted into fabric, so heading 5109 does not apply.
Heading 5111

Frequently asked questions

What is the HTS code for wool knitting yarn put up for retail sale?

If the yarn is 85% or more wool by weight and the fiber averages 18.5 microns or less, use 5109.10.80.00, which carries a general (MFN) rate of 6%. Other 85% or more wool yarn falls in 5109.10.90.00, also at a general (MFN) rate of 6%.

What is the duty on Angora rabbit hair yarn put up for retail sale?

Angora rabbit hair yarn containing 85% or more wool or fine animal hair is classified under 5109.10.40.00 at a general (MFN) rate of 4%. If that content is below 85%, the line is 5109.90.40.00, also at a general (MFN) rate of 4%.

How do I classify dyed wool yarn cut into uniform lengths of not over 8 cm?

With 85% or more wool or fine animal hair by weight, it goes in 5109.10.20.00, which is Free. If the content is under that threshold, it goes in 5109.90.20.00, also Free.

Guide written from the official schedule text. Rates quoted are general (MFN) rates; check the line page for trade agreement rates and the classification of your exact product.