How to export gloves and hats from the UK to China
Match each model to its Chinese tariff line and check whether motorcycle helmet CCC certification is required before import. Glove lines carry 6% MFN duty; headwear lines range from 4% to 10%. Include import VAT in the landed-cost calculation. Cambridge China Bridge’s own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands.
Separate ordinary accessories from motorcycle helmets
Gloves, hats and headwear span ordinary textile accessories and safety products. These figures cover UK exports under HS 6116-6506 (10 subheadings). Motorcycle helmets need a separate CCC assessment before import. The largest UK export line was 65061080, safety headgear other than of plastics, at £462k in 2025; that is the whole tariff-line total.
HMRC recorded £816k of UK goods exports to mainland China under 10 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £701k, +16.4%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £1.9m. January to July 2026: £334k against £641k in the same months of 2025 (-47.9%). These are UK exports under HS 6116-6506 (10 subheadings).
Use the Chinese tariff line to price the shipment
The verified Chinese tariff lines have the MFN rates below. Import VAT is generally 13%, subject to statutory exceptions, and applies to customs value plus customs duty plus any applicable consumption tax. The importer’s customs adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to the model. These border taxes add to landed cost and shape the price a Chinese importer can offer your brand.
| Chinese tariff line | Rate |
|---|---|
| 61161000 | 6% |
| 61169100 | 6% |
| 61169200 | 6% |
| 61169300 | 6% |
| 61169900 | 6% |
| 65040000 | 8% |
| 65050010 | 4% |
| 65050020 | 8% |
| 65050091 | 8% |
| 65050099 | 8% |
| 65061000 | 4% |
| 65069100 | 4% |
| 65069910 | 8% |
| 65069920 | 4% |
| 65069990 | 10% |
Resolve CCC scope and textile standards before committing
The CCC reference match identifies motorcycle passenger helmets under 6506100090 and specifies third-party certification. Have the importer’s licensed compliance partner confirm whether the exact model falls within that scope and when certification must be obtained; the broader HS 650610 heading alone does not settle the question. Allow months, not weeks, for approvals; the Chinese authority decides. Have the exact helmet model and intended use assessed before committing stock.
GB 18401-2010, the national basic safety technical specification for textile products, is a current mandatory standard. Give your Chinese compliance partner the fibre composition, construction and intended use of each textile model so it can confirm the standard’s scope and prepare the relevant label work.
Prepare the UK export declaration by model
For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, arrange a GB EORI and classify each model under the right UK commodity code. The online export declaration needs value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing-list references. Give the carrier the invoice and any required export licences or certificates. Distinguish coated gloves, fibre types, textile hats and safety headgear when preparing the shipment information.
Cross-border retail covers the listed glove lines and crocheted hats
The cross-border e-commerce retail import list includes 61161000, 61169100, 61169200, 61169300 and 61169900, plus crocheted hats under 65050020. It only partly covers this range, so do not assume every hat or helmet qualifies. Listed goods imported through bonded 1210 or direct 9610 channels are supervised as personal-use articles.
The overseas business carries the main product quality and safety responsibility and must appoint a mainland-registered company to register with customs, declare truthfully and share civil liability. Consumers must accept a risk notice before ordering: origin-country standards may differ from Chinese standards, Chinese labels may be absent with an electronic version available online, and purchases are for personal use and cannot be resold.
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Find an importer who can assess your actual range
Give prospective importers a model list showing materials, construction and intended use. Ask them to distinguish ordinary accessories from motorcycle helmets, identify the Chinese tariff lines and explain their proposed import route. Compare their buying offer against the duty and VAT calculation, and have any claimed CCC coverage checked against the helmet model.
Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached you, our staff check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed. Use our export service to discuss the range and the proposed buyer.
We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. Regulated roles stay with licensed partners in China, including the importer of record and, where required, the cross-border e-commerce agent. Your brand’s own filings stay yours. We check requirements with licensed partners.
Frequently asked questions
What import duty applies to UK knitted gloves in China?
Chinese lines 61161000, 61169100, 61169200, 61169300 and 61169900 each carry 6% MFN duty. Confirm which line matches the coating and fibre composition of your model.
Do all hats and helmets need CCC certification?
The CCC reference table identifies motorcycle passenger helmets under 6506100090 for third-party certification. Have the actual model assessed; the broader HS 650610 heading alone does not settle CCC scope.
Can I sell UK hats through cross-border retail imports?
The listed hat line is 65050020 for crocheted hats. Coverage is partial, so check the exact model and Chinese line. Purchases through this route are for personal use and cannot be resold.
What should I send a Chinese importer about textile gloves?
Send fibre composition, construction, intended use and the proposed tariff line. Include the information needed to assess GB 18401-2010 and prepare invoice, packing-list and export-declaration details.