Sourcing bamboo stretch jersey from China
Bamboo-viscose elastane jersey from China normally pays 8% UK duty within heading 6004; the wider heading ranges from 6% to 8%. Confirm the permitted consumer fibre-labelling names with Trading Standards. Confirm composition, width and stretch before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources bamboo-viscose elastane jersey fabric.
8% duty for bamboo-viscose elastane jersey
Heading 6004 covers knitted or crocheted fabrics wider than 30 cm containing at least 5% elastomeric yarn or rubber thread, excluding heading 6001. Bamboo-viscose elastane jersey without rubber thread is a candidate for 6004 10 00 91, the line covering wool, cotton or artificial fibres. Confirm the actual blend rather than classifying from the supplier's product name.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the elastomeric-yarn lines carried 8% duty on goods from China; the other line carried 6%. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions. No controls are attached to 6004 10 00 91. The separate line 6004 90 00 00 carries cat and dog fur import and export controls; if considering that line, confirm the requirement with your customs broker.
The table shows fabric variants within the same commodity line, rather than separate codes for dyeing or printing. Confirm the commodity code using composition, construction, finished width and the presence of rubber thread. See the wider viscose-elastane jersey guide for related fabrics.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyed bamboo-viscose elastane jersey, without rubber thread | 6004 10 00 91 | 8% | None |
Specify the bamboo-viscose blend and finished fabric
Write down the viscose and elastane shares, jersey construction, yarn specification, finished mass per square metre and usable width after relaxation. Agree stretch and recovery in each direction, wash shrinkage, spirality, pilling performance and the approved colour sample. Ask for records supporting the claimed bamboo pulp source; a fibre-composition test alone does not establish that source.
For consumer sale, including fabric sold by the metre, confirm with Trading Standards which fibre names to use in the composition information. Keep the bamboo-source description separate from the measured fibre composition. Confirm with HSE whether UK REACH azo-dye restrictions apply to textiles intended for prolonged skin contact. Request relevant dye testing for the ordered fabric and colour, particularly for underwear or other garments worn against the skin.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 metres of dyed bamboo-viscose elastane jersey, illustrative only under 6004 10 00 91, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,200. Duty at 8% is £1,056. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,256, so it is £2,851.20. Import taxes total £3,907.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,056 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Composition and records: compare the tested viscose and elastane content with the order, roll documents and proposed fibre description; check the evidence behind the bamboo-source claim.
Weight and width: measure relaxed usable width and mass per square metre across sampled rolls. Record curled edges and areas that cannot be used in cutting.
Wash and recovery: wash bulk samples using the agreed care conditions, measure shrinkage and spirality, and compare stretch recovery and pilling with the approved fabric.
Colour and surface: compare dye lots and edge-to-centre shade; check rubbing and wash fastness, needle lines, holes and print cracking under stretch. Agree the sampling plan through the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A soft sample can hide poor recovery or unstable finishing. Bulk fabric may grow during wear, shrink after washing or twist enough to move garment side seams. Narrow usable width and low weight change cutting yield; shade differences between rolls can leave mismatched panels.
A supplier's bamboo description can also conceal an unclear fibre specification or unsupported pulp-source claim. Keep the approved sample, composition report and source records together. Inspect bulk fabric before shipment and repeat the agreed arrival checks before cutting.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on bamboo-viscose elastane jersey from China?
The relevant line 6004 10 00 91 carries 8% duty in the supplied tariff data, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspension. Heading 6004 overall ranges from 6% to 8%.
Does the word bamboo confirm the fabric composition?
No. Ask for the measured viscose and elastane content and separate records supporting the bamboo pulp source. Agree the fibre description before approving consumer labels.
Do printed and dyed bamboo-viscose jerseys have different codes?
Dyeing or printing does not create separate lines in the supplied heading 6004 data. Confirm the blend, construction, width, elastomeric-yarn content and absence of rubber thread.
What should I check before cutting the rolls?
Check relaxed usable width, weight, shade, holes and needle lines. Wash samples for shrinkage and spirality, and check stretch recovery against the approved fabric.