Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85 percent or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale
48 declarable lines
Heading 5205 covers cotton yarn other than sewing thread that contains 85% or more by weight of cotton and is not put up for retail sale, so it covers yarn sold on cones, tubes, or beams to mills and manufacturers. It splits first by construction into single yarn (5205.11 through 5205.28) and multiple (folded) or cabled yarn (5205.31 through 5205.48). Each of those groups then splits by combed versus uncombed fibers and by yarn fineness measured in metric number or decitex, with single uncombed yarn further split into unbleached, not mercerized and other.
Products in this heading
- Unbleached single cotton yarn on cones for weaving
- Combed ring-spun cotton yarn for circular knitting
- Fine combed cotton yarn above 120 metric number for shirting fabric
- Two-ply folded cotton yarn on tubes for knitting
- Cabled cotton yarn for cord and twine production
- Dyed or bleached single combed cotton yarn on cones
- Coarse carded cotton yarn for denim warp
- Mercerized cotton yarn sold in bulk packages to textile mills
How to choose the right subheading
- Fiber content: the yarn must be 85% or more by weight cotton to stay in 5205.
- Construction: single yarn versus multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, which sets the 5205.1x, 5205.2x, 5205.3x, 5205.4x group.
- Fiber preparation: combed versus uncombed fibers, which changes both the subheading and the rate.
- Fineness: the metric number or decitex per single yarn, which decides the break at 14 nm, 43 nm, 52 nm, and 80 nm and the decitex bands above 80 nm.
- Appearance: for single uncombed yarn, whether it is unbleached and not mercerized or falls in the other category.
Often confused with
- Heading 5204Cotton sewing thread on spools
Sewing thread is a separate heading whether or not put up for retail sale.
- Heading 5206Cotton yarn with less than 85% cotton, blended with man-made fibers
The 85% cotton weight test sends lower cotton content yarn to 5206.
- Heading 5207Cotton yarn put up for retail sale, such as small balls or skeins
Retail packaging takes the yarn out of 5205.
- Heading 5208Woven cotton fabric
Yarn becomes fabric only after weaving or knitting, which moves it to the fabric headings.
- Heading 5202Cotton waste and garnetted stock
Recovered fiber and yarn waste are classified as waste, not as yarn.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for unbleached single cotton yarn of uncombed fibers not exceeding 14 nm?
That yarn is classified under 5205.11.10.00, which carries a general (MFN) rate of 3.7%. If the same yarn is bleached, dyed, or mercerized, it falls under 5205.11.20.00 at 5%.
What is the duty on combed single cotton yarn that is ring spun and not exceeding 14 nm?
Combed single cotton yarn not exceeding 14 nm, ring spun, is 5205.21.00.20 at a general (MFN) rate of 5.8%. The non-ring spun version, 5205.21.00.90, carries the same 5.8% rate.
How do I classify two-ply folded cotton yarn made from combed fibers between 14 nm and 43 nm per single yarn?
Multiple (folded) or cabled yarn of combed fibers exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm per single yarn is classified in 5205.42. Ring spun compact yarn above 41 nm goes in 5205.42.00.21 at 6.5%, and the other ring spun and non-ring spun versions, 5205.42.00.29 and 5205.42.00.90, also carry 6.5%.
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.
All lines in heading 5205
- 5205.11.10.00Unbleached, not mercerized (300)3.7%
- 5205.11.20.00Single yarn, of uncombed fibers / Not exceeding 14 nm / Other (300)5%
- 5205.12.10.00Unbleached, not mercerized (300)5.2%
- 5205.12.20.00Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm / Other (300)6.5%
- 5205.13.10.00Unbleached, not mercerized (300)6.5%
- 5205.13.20.00Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm / Other (300)7.3%
- 5205.14.10.00Unbleached, not mercerized (300)7.8%
- 5205.14.20.00Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm / Other (300)8.7%
- 5205.15.10.00Unbleached, not mercerized (300)9.9%
- 5205.15.20.00Single yarn, of uncombed fibers / Exceeding 80 nm / Other (300)12%
- 5205.21.00.20Single yarn, of combed fibers / Not exceeding 14 nm / Ring spun (301)5.8%
- 5205.21.00.90Single yarn, of combed fibers / Not exceeding 14 nm / Other (301)5.8%
- 5205.22.00.20Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm / Ring spun (301)7.3%
- 5205.22.00.90Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm / Other (301)7.3%
- 5205.23.00.20Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm / Ring spun (301)8.6%
- 5205.23.00.90Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm / Other (301)8.6%
- 5205.24.00.20Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm / Ring spun (301)9.9%
- 5205.24.00.90Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm / Other (301)9.9%
- 5205.26.00.20Single yarn, of combed fibers / Ring spun (301)12%
- 5205.26.00.90Single yarn, of combed fibers / Other (301)12%
- 5205.27.00.20Single yarn, of combed fibers / Ring spun (301)12%
- 5205.27.00.90Single yarn, of combed fibers / Other (301)12%
- 5205.28.00.20Measuring less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 120 metric number) / Ring spun (301)12%
- 5205.28.00.90Measuring less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 120 metric number) / Other (301)12%
- 5205.31.00.00Not exceeding 14 nm per single yarn (300)5.8%
- 5205.32.00.00Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm per single yarn (300)7.3%
- 5205.33.00.00Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm per single yarn (300)8.6%
- 5205.34.00.00Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm per single yarn (300)9.9%
- 5205.35.00.00Exceeding 80 nm per single yarn (300)12%
- 5205.41.00.20Not exceeding 14 nm per single yarn / Ring spun (301)5%
- 5205.41.00.90Not exceeding 14 nm per single yarn / Other (301)5%
- 5205.42.00.21Compact, exceeding 41 nm (301)6.5%
- 5205.42.00.29Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm per single yarn / Ring spun / Other (301)6.5%
- 5205.42.00.90Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm per single yarn / Other (301)6.5%
- 5205.43.00.21Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm per single yarn / Ring spun / Compact (301)8.6%
- 5205.43.00.29Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm per single yarn / Ring spun / Other (301)8.6%
- 5205.43.00.90Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm per single yarn / Other (301)8.6%
- 5205.44.00.21Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm per single yarn / Ring spun / Compact (301)9.9%
- 5205.44.00.29Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm per single yarn / Ring spun / Other (301)9.9%
- 5205.44.00.90Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm per single yarn / Other (301)9.9%
- 5205.46.00.21Multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of combed fibers (con.) / Ring spun / Compact (301)12%
- 5205.46.00.29Multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of combed fibers (con.) / Ring spun / Other (301)12%
- 5205.46.00.90Multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of combed fibers (con.) / Other (301)12%
- 5205.47.00.21Compact, not exceeding 102 nm (301)12%
- 5205.47.00.29Multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of combed fibers (con.) / Ring spun / Other (301)12%
- 5205.47.00.90Multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of combed fibers (con.) / Other (301)12%
- 5205.48.00.20Measuring per single yarn less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 120 metric number) / Ring spun (301)12%
- 5205.48.00.90Measuring per single yarn less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 120 metric number) / Other (301)12%