If you buy or trade nonwoven fabric, customs classification is unavoidable. One question comes up constantly: which HS code applies to nonwovens? The answer for most spunbond, meltblown and chemical-bonded fabrics is heading 5603 — "nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated". Declaring the right code affects duty rates, clearance speed, and in the worst case whether cargo gets held or re-exported. This guide walks through heading 5603 in practical terms.
Q1: Is 5603 the right HS code for nonwoven fabric?
Heading 5603 covers webs of fibres that are bonded together by friction, cohesion or adhesion (or a combination), excluding fabrics strengthened with stitching yarn. In plain terms: if the fabric is made by laying fibres into a web and bonding them — not by spinning yarn and weaving or knitting — it almost always belongs in 5603. PP spunbond nonwovens, SMS composites, meltblown, spunlace and chemical-bonded fabrics all sit here. You do not need to memorize process details; start from 5603 for any "non-woven" fibre-web product.
Q2: How do I pick the subheading? GSM decides
Subheadings under 5603 split in two steps. Step one: man-made filaments (such as PP spunbond) go to 5603.1; other man-made textile materials go to 5603.9. Step two: the weight per square metre (GSM) picks the final code. For synthetic-filament fabrics: up to 25 g/m² is 5603.11; over 25 up to 70 g/m² is 5603.12; over 70 up to 150 g/m² is 5603.13; over 150 g/m² is 5603.14. This is why GSM must appear clearly on quotations and invoices — it is not just a spec, it sets your duty rate.
GSM Bands
≤25 gsm → 5603.11; 25-70 gsm → 5603.12; 70-150 gsm → 5603.13; >150 gsm → 5603.14 (man-made filaments).
Invoice Requirement
State GSM on the invoice and packing list, matching the declared subheading; watch products near band edges (e.g. 70 gsm).
View Roll Specifications
Q3: How is 5603 different from 5601, 5602 and Chapter 39?
Three codes cause the most confusion. 5601 is wadding and filling materials — loose fibre products for stuffing, not finished fabric. 5602 is felt, including needle-punched felts made by pressing and bonding, a different process family from spunbond. Chapter 39 (e.g. 3919, 3921) covers products where plastics dominate — if a plastic coating or lamination becomes the essential character (flooring, tabletop laminates), classification may move to Chapter 39. When in doubt, send the process, composition, GSM and end use to your customs broker or destination agent for confirmation — far cheaper than amending a declaration after the fact.
Q4: What makes customs clearance smoother?
First, keep product names and HS codes identical across the invoice, packing list and bill of lading — do not write "nonwoven fabric" on one document and "PP material" on another. Second, fix one code per SKU; if the GSM changes, the code changes with it. Third, check destination duty in advance — the same 5603 heading carries very different MFN rates and trade-measure exposure in the US, EU and Southeast Asia. Fourth, keep a third-party GSM test report on file so a customs exam can be cleared quickly. Do these four things and clearance is usually a one-pass affair.
Q5: What is the GST rate and which documents are required to import non woven fabric? (India example)
Take India as an example: after the September 2025 GST reform, all 5603 nonwovens (5603.11-.14, covering PP spunbond, PET and spunlace) attract a uniform 5% IGST, down from the previous 12%. Add basic customs duty of about 20% plus the social welfare surcharge, and budgeting a total landed duty of roughly 28-33% of CIF value is a safe rule of thumb. On documents, the standard five are: commercial invoice (product name + GSM + HS code), packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin (claiming FTA rates where applicable), and the manufacturer's GSM test report / mill test certificate — Indian customs may also ask for an azo-dye compliance declaration. Rates differ widely by country: the same 5603 heading is duty-free into the US today, about 5% into Indonesia and around 18% into Vietnam, so always confirm per destination before shipping.
