Sourcing carded alpaca batts from China

Zero duty and a species check

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 5105 covers carded or combed wool and fine or coarse animal hair. Carded alpaca batts belong to the other fine animal hair line, 5105 39 00 00. The table shows different batt forms under this same line, rather than separate tariff classifications.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on this line. It attaches CITES import and export controls. Listed species require permits under the relevant CITES provisions; confirm the actual fibre species and the applicable requirement with your customs broker. A broad tariff control does not establish the permit requirement for an individual alpaca shipment.

Confirm the commodity code using the fibre composition and processing stage. Describe loose carded fibre accurately rather than calling it finished felt or fabric. For the wider heading and the combed alternative, see combed alpaca tops.

Specify the batt, not just the fibre

Specify alpaca content and any blending fibres, mean fibre diameter and variation, fibre length, guard hair, vegetable matter and residual grease. Agree batt weight, dimensions, thickness uniformity, colour and packing. Supply an approved sample and state whether the intended use is felting or hand spinning; trial the sample in that process before approving production.

Ask for the washing or treatment record, rather than relying on the word carded. Treated wool and hair meeting the official treatment conditions may enter Great Britain from any country without a health certificate or veterinary checks. Ask APHA or your broker to confirm the accompanying commercial-document requirements, including details of the consignor, consignee, origin, quantity, species and treatment. Have the broker check that the records support the treated-hair route.

For resale as a textile product, fibre labelling rules apply and the label must show fibre content. Match the declared alpaca content to the batch test and carry the same composition through the supplier paperwork and resale information.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 kg of undyed carded alpaca batts under 5105 39 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,500, so it is £1,500. 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

Identity: compare batch fibre testing with the agreed alpaca content and check for undeclared wool or synthetic fibres.

Carding: open batts from different packs and check thin patches, dense lumps, neps, guard hair and vegetable matter against the approved sample.

Performance: run a small felting or spinning trial, checking shedding, drafting behaviour and dyed-fibre colour transfer.

Packing: check net weight, shade, dampness, odour and compression damage; match pack identifiers to the batch report and treatment documents.

What goes wrong

A soft surface can hide coarse guard hair or uneven carding inside the batt. Thin areas and compacted lumps make felting uneven, while short fibres and neps interrupt drafting. Undeclared blends change the handle and performance. Compare opened production packs with a retained approved sample.

Damp packing, shade variation and missing treatment records can make an otherwise usable batch difficult to accept. Request the batch tests and commercial documents before dispatch, then keep suspect packs separate while the supplier explains the discrepancy.

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.