Sourcing aluminised textile fabric from China

UK duty on aluminised textile fabric

Heading 5907 covers textile fabrics otherwise impregnated, coated or covered, alongside painted scenery canvas. For aluminised textile fabric, the relevant candidate is 5907 00 00 90, described as “Other”. Supply the base fibre, aluminium layer, adhesive and any plastic film details when confirming classification. See the wider coated and reflective fabric guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the other-fabric line carries 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for that line. The suspension on the embedded-sphere fabric line does not describe ordinary aluminised fabric.

Confirm the commodity code using a sample and the complete layer specification. A supplier's description of “aluminised fabric” does not establish classification. Our import duty and VAT guide explains the border calculation.

Specify the cloth, aluminium layer and heat exposure

Specify the base fibre and weave, finished mass, thickness, usable width and aluminium construction. Ask whether the surface is deposited aluminium, bonded foil or an aluminium-bearing film. Record the adhesive, backing finish, coated face and intended sewing or bonding method. Keep an approved sample showing both faces.

Describe radiant heat, direct contact, exposure duration, flexing and cleaning separately. Ask for test reports covering the exact construction and conditioning agreed for your application. A temperature claim for the base cloth does not demonstrate that the adhesive or aluminium layer will survive the same exposure.

UK REACH restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances. Check the restrictions relevant to the coating, adhesive and finishes, and request supporting composition information. For finished protective equipment sold in Great Britain, CE marking remains recognised indefinitely; agree the finished-product compliance work separately from fabric testing. Arrange testing and certification around the intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,800 metres of aluminised textile fabric in rolls under 5907 00 00 90, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,200. Duty at 4% is £608. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,808, so it is £3,161.60. Import taxes total £3,769.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £608 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Construction: compare both faces and a cut edge with the approved sample; check base cloth, layer sequence, mass, thickness and usable width.

Aluminium surface: inspect across the width and along the roll for bare patches, pinholes, scratches, creases and uneven coverage.

Adhesion and flexing: use the agreed peel, rubbing and repeated-fold checks; repeat after the specified heat exposure and cleaning.

Roll condition: check measured length, joins, edge damage, moisture and batch identification; retain labelled samples before cutting.

What goes wrong

A bright surface can hide weak bonding. Folding may crack the aluminium layer, abrasion may expose the backing, and heat may soften the adhesive before the base cloth fails. Changing the backing, adhesive or film can also invalidate comparisons with the approved sample.

Agree acceptance criteria for coverage, adhesion and performance after conditioning. Check bulk samples against those criteria and protect the aluminium face from rubbing during packing. Use quality inspection to record defects and identify affected rolls before dispatch.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.