Section XI · Textiles & Apparel · Chapter 50
Silk
About chapter 50
Chapter 50 covers silk: raw silk, silk waste, silk yarn and woven silk fabric. It's the first of the fibre-specific textile chapters that make up Section XI (chapters 50-63), organized by fibre type before moving to finished apparel.
Classification tip: Raw silk, silk waste (noil) and thrown silk yarn each have separate subheadings, so identify the exact processing stage rather than classifying everything simply as 'silk'.
9 six-digit codes
Silk-worm cocoons suitable for reeling
1 code5001.00Silk; silk-worm cocoons suitable for reeling
Raw silk (not thrown)
1 code5002.00Silk; raw silk (not thrown)
Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garnetted stock)
1 code5003.00Silk waste (including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, yarn waste and garnetted stock)
Silk; yarn (other than yarn spun from silk waste), not put up for retail sale
1 code5004.00Silk; yarn (other than yarn spun from silk waste), not put up for retail sale
Yarn spun from silk waste, not put up for retail sale
1 code5005.00Silk; yarn spun from silk waste, not put up for retail sale
Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste, put up for retail sale; silk-worm gut
1 code5006.00Silk yarn and yarn spun from silk waste; put up for retail sale, and silk-worm gut
Woven fabrics of silk or of silk waste
3 codes5007.10Silk; woven fabrics of noil silk5007.20Silk; woven fabrics, containing 85% or more by weight of silk or of silk waste other than noil silk5007.90Silk; woven fabrics n.e.c. in heading no. 5007
More chapters in section XI: Textiles & Apparel
- 51Wool, fine or coarse animal hair
- 52Cotton
- 53Vegetable textile fibres
- 54Man-made filaments
- 55Man-made staple fibres
- 56Wadding, felt and nonwovens, special yarns
- 57Carpets and other textile floor coverings
- 58Fabrics
- 59Textile fabrics
- 60Fabrics
- 61Apparel and clothing accessories
- 62Apparel and clothing accessories
- 63Textiles, made up articles
Codes and descriptions follow the WCO six-digit Harmonized System nomenclature. National tariff schedules extend these to 8–13 digits and set the actual duty rate, so confirm the full code for your destination country with your customs broker before filing. To copy a code, hover a row and use the copy button; every code has 5001-style dot notation ready for your commercial invoice.
Chapter 50 FAQ
What does HS code chapter 50 cover?
Chapter 50 of the Harmonized System covers: silk. It belongs to section XI (Textiles & Apparel) and contains 7 four-digit headings, 5001–5007.
How many HS codes are in chapter 50?
Chapter 50 contains 7 four-digit headings and 9 six-digit subheadings. Countries subdivide these further (8–13 digits) in their national tariff schedules, so the full national count is larger.
Is HS code 5001 the same in every country?
Yes. The six-digit level of every code in this chapter is harmonised by the World Customs Organization and identical in all member countries. Digits beyond the sixth (for example the US 10-digit HTS or the EU 8-digit CN) are national and set the actual duty rate.
How do I choose the right code within chapter 50?
Work from the four-digit heading down: pick the heading that best matches your product, then the six-digit subheading that matches its material, form or processing. If two codes seem to fit, customs rules (the General Rules of Interpretation) decide, and when in doubt, confirm with your customs broker before filing.