Sourcing bamboo viscose felt from China

A flat 6% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5602 covers felt, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated. The relevant bamboo viscose felt lines all carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.

The uncoated needleloom and other felt lines shown, plus the other treated felt line, carry cat and dog fur import and export controls. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur products are banned. Obtain a composition declaration and confirm the customs declaration requirement with your broker. The tariff also attaches an export CITES control to 5602 29 00 90; confirm its application with your broker if re-exporting.

Choose the code from the manufacturing process and any impregnation, coating, covering or lamination, rather than the bamboo name. Ask your broker to confirm the commodity code using the specification and a sample. See our wider viscose needle punched felt guide for related felt purchasing checks.

Specify the viscose blend and felt construction

Ask the factory to declare the viscose content and every blending fibre, including any polyester binder fibre. Request records supporting the claimed bamboo pulp source separately. Agree whether the material is needle punched or otherwise bonded, and identify any backing, adhesive or surface treatment.

Specify weight per square metre, thickness under an agreed measuring pressure, roll width, usable length, shade and acceptable shedding. For felt that will be washed or wetted, agree checks for dimensional change, wet strength and colour transfer. Textile labels must show fibre content; match the declared composition to the supplied material.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 8 tonnes of uncoated bamboo viscose needleloom felt in rolls under 5602 10 19 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,500. Duty at 6% is £930. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,430, so it is £3,286. Import taxes total £4,216; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £930 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Composition: compare the fibre declaration, label and batch test report with the order; check that bamboo source records relate to the supplied fibre.

Weight and thickness: weigh cut samples across the width and from different rolls, then measure thickness under the agreed pressure.

Surface and performance: check shade, thin patches, loose fibres and shedding; test wetting or washing behaviour against the approved sample where relevant.

Rolls and packing: check usable width and length, joins, winding, crushed cores, dampness and odour. Record findings using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A bamboo description can conceal an unspecified viscose blend or leave the pulp source unsubstantiated. Softness alone cannot settle composition. Compare the declaration and test results with the approved material, and resolve differences before accepting the batch.

Low weight, uneven needling and excessive shedding can spoil cutting and handling. A sample that looks acceptable dry may distort or transfer colour when wetted. Agree acceptance checks around the intended use, and inspect roll interiors as well as exposed ends.

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.