U.S. imports of Sewing Thread of Artificial Filaments (HS 540120) totaled $78K in August 2026, imported from 17 countries.
Importers of Sewing Thread of Artificial Filaments paid $10K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.42% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSewing thread made from regenerated cellulosic filaments — principally viscose rayon and cupro — occupies a specialty niche in apparel manufacturing where a silk-like luster and smooth hand are required, particularly in luxury garment construction and decorative stitching. Mexico leads US imports of this heading, followed by Indonesia and China. A single 10-digit line (5401200000) covers all presentations, so the classification pivot is confirming the filament is artificial/regenerated rather than synthetic — a distinction that requires fiber content documentation and is a recurring source of misclassification when polyester and rayon threads are visually similar.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
38 import shipments a month
The distinction rests on fiber origin: artificial filaments are regenerated from natural cellulose (e.g., viscose rayon, cupro, modal), while synthetic filaments are petroleum-derived polymers (e.g., polyester, nylon). A manufacturer's fiber content certificate or a laboratory burn/solubility test report is the standard evidence. Given the visual similarity between rayon and polyester threads, laboratory confirmation is advisable for high-value or high-volume shipments.
Goods of Chinese origin across many textile and apparel headings, including this one, may be subject to Section 301 tariffs in addition to the standard column 1 duty rate. Importers should verify the current Section 301 status for 5401200000 with a licensed customs broker before finalizing landed-cost calculations, as these measures can materially affect the economics of sourcing from China versus alternative suppliers such as Mexico or Indonesia.
ImportsExports
Imports
$78KYoY · free account
Exports
$15KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $922K of Sewing Thread of Artificial Filaments and exported $1.1M.
Fewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade, or the latest month was under $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and India together supply 83% of it. Brazil pays 49.0% duty; Mexico 0.5%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
52.4% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 13.42% of imports for consumption.
Subheading 2 of 2 in heading 5401
Subheading 540120 · $78K of $3.2M
Trade Directory
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5401200000 | Sewing Thread Artificial Filaments for Retail Sale | $78K | 13.42% | 47.56% | $10K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 5401200000 | Sewing Thread Artificial Filaments for Retail Sale | $15K |
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.