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U.S. imports of cotton linters (HS 140420) totaled $340K in July 2026, traded with 1 country.
Importers of Cotton Linters paid $17K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $170K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Cotton Linters imports of $340K in July 2026 ran 51% above the year-to-date monthly average of $225K.
Last updated: July 2026 dataCotton linters — the short cellulose fibers remaining on cottonseed after ginning — are a specialized industrial raw material used in the production of cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, and high-quality paper. Unlike textile-grade cotton, linters are valued for their high alpha-cellulose content and are not subject to the same quota or tariff-rate-quota regimes that govern raw cotton fiber. Canada and Brazil are the leading US suppliers, with Turkey also a notable source. Importers should verify that linters meet the alpha-cellulose purity specification required by their downstream processor, as off-grade material can disrupt chemical cellulose manufacturing.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
2 shipments/mo
Cotton linters (heading 1404) are the very short fibers removed from cottonseed by a second ginning pass and are classified separately from raw cotton fiber (Chapter 52) and cotton waste (5202). The key distinguishing characteristic is that linters are attached to the seed rather than the boll, and their fiber length is typically under 3 mm. Customs may request technical documentation — such as fiber length analysis or a mill certificate — to confirm classification when the product is borderline.
The primary end-use sectors are specialty chemicals (cellulose acetate for cigarette filters and films, nitrocellulose for coatings and explosives), pharmaceutical excipients (microcrystalline cellulose), and specialty paper (currency paper, filter paper). Demand from these industries is relatively stable but sensitive to alpha-cellulose content specifications, so importers should obtain mill certificates confirming purity grade with each shipment.
HSChapter 14
Subheading 2 of 2 in heading 1404
Subheading 140420 · $340K of $13.5M
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1404200000 | Cotton Linters | $340K | 5.02% | 50.18% | $17K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1404200000 | Cotton Linters | $161K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
ImportsExports
Imports
$340KYoY · Pro
Exports
$161KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProFewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade above $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
49.8% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 5.02%.