Sourcing acrylic bouclé yarn from China

Duty on retail acrylic bouclé yarn

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 5511 covers yarn other than sewing thread, made from man-made staple fibres and put up for retail sale. The relevant synthetic-fibre lines carry 0% duty from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or import controls.

Code 5511 10 00 00 covers synthetic staple fibre content of 85% or more by weight; 5511 20 00 00 covers less than 85%. The table separates solid-colour and marl products sharing these codes. Classification of a blend depends on its fibre composition, and retail status depends on the packaging rules. Confirm the commodity code using the complete blend and ball or hank details.

For the wider product family, see acrylic hand-knitting yarn. The worked order is illustrative, with FOB value and freight in whole pounds, rather than a supplier quotation. Import VAT is separate from duty; see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the bouclé loops and knitted finish

Specify the fibre composition of the complete yarn, including the core, loop-forming strand and binding strand. Agree loop size, spacing, yarn thickness, twist, softness, colour, ball weight and metres per ball. Keep an approved yarn sample and knitted swatch showing the intended texture, tension and behaviour after washing.

Consumer yarn must state its fibre composition; confirm acceptable fibre names with the relevant authority. Bouclé describes the texture, so keep it separate from the composition statement on the ball band. Agree dye-lot identification, needle guidance and care information. Demonstrate compliance with relevant product safety requirements before sale, and retain the supporting sample and test records.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,200 retail balls of acrylic bouclé hand-knitting yarn, each 100 g under 5511 10 00 00, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,700. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,700, so it is £540. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Loops: compare loop size and distribution with the approved sample; unwind and knit the yarn to check snagging, loose loops, exposed core and uneven texture.

Colour: compare sampled balls from each dye lot with the retained shade sample, then check washing and rubbing for colour transfer.

Quantity: weigh sampled balls and check the stated length; loose winding can make an underweight ball look full.

Bands and cartons: check fibre composition, colour and dye-lot details against the order; keep lots identifiable during quality inspection and on arrival.

What goes wrong

An attractive sample can hide unstable loops. During knitting, loops catch on needles, slide along the core or pull out, leaving bare sections. Tighter winding can flatten the texture, while a different loop structure changes the appearance and tension of the finished fabric.

Shade drift, short length and mixed dye lots also cause returns. Compare production yarn with the approved knitted swatch before shipment and repeat the checks on arrival. Keep suspect lots separate while the factory investigates, rather than mixing them into saleable stock.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.