# HS code 5508.20: Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale, of artificial staple fibres

> HS code 5508.20 covers sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale, of artificial staple fibres. It sits in heading 55.08 (sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale) in chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres). Other goods of heading 55.08 are classified under 5508.10 (of synthetic staple fibres). National tariff lines under 5508.20 are live on border.bot for the United States (1 line, also used by 1 other country).

Source: https://border.bot/hs-codes/550820
Last updated: 11 October 2026

[HS codes](https://border.bot/hs-codes) / [Chapter 55](https://border.bot/hs-codes/55) / [55.08](https://border.bot/hs-codes/5508) / [5508.20](https://border.bot/hs-codes/550820)

## Key facts

- HS code: 5508.20
- Covers: Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale, of artificial staple fibres
- Heading: [55.08: Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale](https://border.bot/hs-codes/5508)
- Chapter: [55: Man-made staple fibres](https://border.bot/hs-codes/55)
- Edition: HS2022
- Duty in the United States: [See its 1 line](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/550820)

## What this code covers

HS code 5508.20 covers sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale, of artificial staple fibres.

The legal text of the subheading is “Of artificial staple fibres”, in HS2022.

## What it doesn’t cover

Other goods of heading 55.08 are classified under 5508.10 (of synthetic staple fibres).

- [5508.10](https://border.bot/hs-codes/550810) Of synthetic staple fibres

## How it is structured

5508.20 is a six-digit subheading. Its first two digits, 55, are the chapter; the first four, 5508, are heading 55.08; the last two, 20, identify the subheading within the heading.

Countries add their own digits after these six for their national tariff lines.

- Chapter 55: Man-made staple fibres
- Heading 55.08: Sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale
- Subheading 5508.20: Of artificial staple fibres

## In other countries

National tariff lines under 5508.20 are live on border.bot for the United States (1 line, also used by 1 other country).

- [United States](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/550820): 1 line, used by 1 other country

## Related codes

The same text, “Of artificial staple fibres”, also divides 1 other heading in chapter 55: 5511.30 under heading 55.11.

- [5511.30](https://border.bot/hs-codes/551130) Heading 55.11: Yarn (other than sewing thread) of man-made staple fibres, put up for retail sale

- Previous subheading: [5508.10](https://border.bot/hs-codes/550810) Of synthetic staple fibres
- Next subheading: [5509.11](https://border.bot/hs-codes/550911) Containing 85 % or more by weight of staple fibres of nylon or other polyamides: Single yarn

## Frequently asked questions

### What does HS code 5508.20 cover?

HS code 5508.20 covers sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale, of artificial staple fibres.

### Which heading and chapter is HS code 5508.20 in?

HS code 5508.20 is in heading 55.08 (sewing thread of man-made staple fibres, whether or not put up for retail sale) in chapter 55 (man-made staple fibres).

### Where are goods of heading 55.08 classified when 5508.20 doesn’t fit?

Other goods of heading 55.08 are classified under 5508.10 (of synthetic staple fibres).

### Which countries’ tariffs list national lines under HS code 5508.20?

National tariff lines under 5508.20 are live on border.bot for the United States (1 line, also used by 1 other country).

## Sources and updates

The Harmonized System legal text comes from border.bot release 2 (edition HS 2022), imported from a file, and has been live since 11 October 2026.

This page was last updated on 11 October 2026.

Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling.

Machine-readable: https://border.bot/hs-codes/550820.json