Sourcing carded yak fibre batts from China

Zero duty on carded yak fibre batts

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, heading 5105 covers carded or combed wool and fine or coarse animal hair. Carded yak fibre batts fall within the other fine animal hair line, 5105 39 00 00. The table shows buying variants within that same tariff line. Combed material is covered in our yak fibre tops guide.

The line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It attaches CITES import and export controls. Confirm the declared species and the import requirement with your customs broker; listed species require the relevant CITES permit. Do not treat the tariff flag as proof that every yak fibre shipment needs a permit.

For treated wool and hair, confirm with APHA or your customs broker whether imports are permitted from the country of origin, whether a health certificate or veterinary check is needed, and whether a commercial document identifying the parties, origin, quantity, species and treatment is required. Ask for treatment records before shipping. Confirm the commodity code using fibre identity and processing stage, and consult the duty and VAT guide.

Specify yak down and batt structure

State whether the batts contain dehaired yak down or retain guard hair. Agree fibre identity, mean diameter and its variation, fibre length, short-fibre content, residual grease and vegetable matter. Record any blend separately. Ask for a lot-specific fibre report and retain an approved sample.

Specify batt dimensions, net weight, thickness consistency, colour and packing. Check whether the batt opens into workable layers and whether it suits your intended felting or spinning process. Approve a trial using the actual production fibre. Keep natural shades and dyed shades as separate approval samples.

Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Check the proposed resale label against the fibre report. Request evidence of washing or other treatment separately from the carding description.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 180 kg of undyed carded yak fibre 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

Fibre: compare samples from different packs with the approved sample and lot report; check identity, diameter and prickly guard hair.

Structure: weigh batts, compare dimensions and thickness, and look for thin patches, clumps, neps and excessive loose fibre.

Cleanliness: open packs and check vegetable matter, residual grease, foreign fibres, dampness, odour and signs of mould.

Traceability: match pack marks to the lot report, invoice and treatment document; compare shade across the consignment.

What goes wrong

A soft approval sample can be followed by batts with more guard hair or shorter fibres. Uneven carding leaves dense lumps and thin patches; natural shades vary between lots; heavy compression makes batts difficult to separate. Test production samples in your own process before accepting the shipment.

A supplier may describe the fibre only as yak wool and provide no treatment history. Ask for the species, composition and treatment records before booking freight. Carding records alone do not establish the treatment route. Resolve uncertain CITES requirements with your customs broker before dispatch.

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.