Vegetable materials of a kind used primarily for plaiting; (e.g. bamboos, rattans, reeds, rushes, osier, raffia, cleaned, bleached or dyed cereal straw and lime bark)

HS code 1401 covers a diverse range of vegetable materials that are primarily used for plaiting and weaving. These materials, which include bamboos, rattans, reeds, rushes, osier, raffia, and processed cereal straw and lime bark, play a crucial role in various industries, from furniture and home decor to the production of baskets, mats, and other woven goods. This industry is an important contributor to the global economy, providing raw materials for a wide range of consumer and industrial products.

The production of the materials covered under HS code 1401 typically involves harvesting, cleaning, and processing the raw vegetable materials. Depending on the specific material, this may include techniques such as drying, bleaching, dyeing, or other treatments to prepare the materials for use in plaiting and weaving applications. The processing methods can vary widely, but often aim to enhance the durability, flexibility, and aesthetic appeal of the final products.

The main inputs required for the production of HS code 1401 materials include the raw vegetable materials themselves, such as bamboo, rattan, reeds, and other natural fibers. Additionally, various processing equipment and tools, such as cutting, drying, and weaving machinery, are necessary for the production of these materials. Depending on the specific application, other inputs like dyes, adhesives, or finishing agents may also be required.

The materials covered under HS code 1401 are primarily used as inputs for the production of a wide range of woven and plaited goods, including furniture, baskets, mats, and other home decor items. These materials may also be used in the production of 4601 (Plaits and similar products of plaiting materials, whether or not assembled into strips; plaiting materials, plaits and similar products of plaiting materials, bound together in parallel strands or woven, in sheet form, whether or not being finished articles (for example, mats, matting, screens)) and 4602 Basketwork, wickerwork and other articles, made directly to shape from plaiting materials or made up from goods of heading 4601; articles of loofah.