How to export Wool yarn from the UK to China
To export wool yarn to China, settle the Chinese tariff line with your buyer, price in border taxes and confirm the applicable textile requirements before shipment. Prepare your GB EORI and export declaration. Cambridge China Bridge’s own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands.
Choose the route for wool and cashmere yarn
Agree the import route with your buyer before offering wool and cashmere yarn. These yarn codes are absent from the cross-border e-commerce retail import list, so confirm an appropriate route with the buyer’s customs broker before planning sales. GACC Decree 280 concerns overseas food manufacturers; its registration requirement does not apply to yarn. The largest UK export line was 51081090, carded fine animal hair yarn excluding unbleached yarn, at £2.0m.
Under HS 5106-5110 (9 subheadings): HMRC recorded £2.4m of UK goods exports to mainland China under 9 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £1.4m, +66.3%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £2.7m.
January to July 2026: £1.6m against £1.2m in the same months of 2025 (+35.3%). These are UK exports under HS 5106-5110 (9 subheadings), rather than a measure of demand for your particular yarn. Have the buyer’s customs broker confirm the product-specific entry requirements before committing stock.
Price against the Chinese tariff line
MFN duty is 5% for the listed non-retail wool and fine animal hair yarn lines, and 6% for the listed retail yarn and coarse animal hair or horsehair yarn lines. Match composition, carded or combed construction and retail presentation to the Chinese tariff line. These costs shape the landed price and what an importer can offer.
The VAT Law sets the standard import VAT rate at 13%, subject to reduced-rate and special provisions. Import VAT uses the customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax as its base. The importer’s customs adviser should confirm the applicable VAT treatment and whether consumption tax applies to this yarn before you settle the commercial price.
| Chinese tariff line | Rate |
|---|---|
| 51061000 | 5% |
| 51062000 | 5% |
| 51071000 | 5% |
| 51072000 | 5% |
| 51081011 | 5% |
| 51081019 | 5% |
| 51081090 | 5% |
| 51082011 | 5% |
| 51082019 | 5% |
| 51082090 | 5% |
| 51091011 | 6% |
| 51091019 | 6% |
| 51091090 | 6% |
| 51099011 | 6% |
| 51099019 | 6% |
| 51099090 | 6% |
| 51100000 | 6% |
Settle the textile standard before production
GB 18401-2010, China’s national basic safety technical specification for textile products, is a current mandatory standard. Give the importer the yarn’s fibre composition, construction and intended use, and ask its customs broker to confirm how the standard applies to the proposed shipment. Settle the applicable requirements before agreeing the supply specification or commissioning compliance work.
Prepare the UK export declaration
For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, obtain a GB EORI and classify the yarn under the correct UK commodity code. The online export declaration needs the code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references. Give the carrier the invoice and any required export licences or certificates. Keep the composition and retail presentation consistent across the specification and declaration.
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Find and check the Chinese buyer
Choose an importer or distributor whose purchasing plans fit your yarn: fibre composition, carded or combed construction and retail or manufacturing use. Request a clear specification and a landed-cost calculation against the proposed Chinese tariff line. Agree who will coordinate the import checks and how those requirements feed into your UK supply specification.
Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If a Chinese importer has already approached your brand, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed. Use our export-to-China service to arrange that work.
Frequently asked questions
What is China’s import duty on wool yarn?
The listed non-retail wool and fine animal hair yarn lines carry 5% MFN duty. The listed retail yarn lines and 51100000 carry 6%. Agree the exact Chinese tariff line before quoting.
Can I sell wool yarn through cross-border e-commerce?
The yarn codes covered here are absent from the cross-border e-commerce retail import list. Confirm the import route with your Chinese buyer before planning that channel.
Does wool yarn need GACC food registration?
No. GACC Decree 280 covers overseas food producers, processors and storage enterprises. Its food-manufacturer registration requirement does not apply to wool yarn.
What details do I need for the UK yarn export declaration?
For exports from England, Scotland or Wales: a GB EORI, the correct commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references.