Loading...
HSChapter 14
U.S. imports of cotton linters (HS 140420) totaled $345K in April 2026, traded with 1 country.
Importers of Cotton Linters paid $35K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $345K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Cotton Linters imports of $345K in April 2026 ran 159% above the year-to-date monthly average of $133K.
Last updated: April 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.
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.
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 140420 — Cotton Linters. Be the first supplier listed.
Monthly import values over time
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1404200000 | COTTON LINTERS | $345K | 10.00% | $35K |
COTTON LINTERS
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1404200000 | COTTON LINTERS | $881K |
COTTON LINTERS
1.3M kg
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAPAN | -- | $581K | +$581K |
| TURKEY | $345K | -- | -$345K |
| CHINA | -- | $299K | +$299K |
| SOUTH AFRICA | -- | -- | -- |
| CHILE | -- | -- | -- |
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $345K | $851K | +$506K |
| Mississippi | -- | $30K | +$30K |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON, TX | -- | $552K | +$552K |
| SAVANNAH, GA | $345K | $163K | -$182K |
| LONG BEACH, CA | -- | $136K | +$136K |