Sourcing coated knitted drysuits from China

UK duty on coated knitted drysuits

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 6113 covers garments made up of knitted or crocheted fabrics of heading 5903, 5906 or 5907. For drysuits within this heading, rubberised knitted fabric under 6113 00 10 00 carries 8% duty from China; other qualifying coated or laminated knitted fabric under 6113 00 90 00 carries 12%.

The supplied tariff records contain no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. The table separates diving and surface water-sports applications within the same commodity lines; intended activity alone does not determine the duty rate.

Confirm the commodity code using a fabric sample, its knitted construction and coating or lamination details. A drysuit description alone is insufficient. Woven coated fabric garments fall under a different heading; compare the coated woven fabric drysuits guide.

Specify the shell, seals and intended use

Specify the knitted base fabric, coating material, layer construction, stretch direction and finished thickness. Define the intended activity, underclothing allowance, movement range, entry zip position, neck and wrist seal materials, and attached socks or boots. For diving models, agree valve locations, attachment details and compatibility with the intended equipment.

Define protective claims before approving the design. Where the suit is personal protective equipment, it must meet essential health and safety requirements. Ask for model-specific conformity documents and test evidence, then compare their material and component descriptions with the order. Consumer products should only be sold once compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately. Use testing and certification support to review the evidence.

Agree fibre-label wording and check it against the actual textile composition. Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH restrictions on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalates apply to the rubber parts and plasticised polyvinyl chloride coatings. Ask for material-specific chemical reports. Define finished-suit leak testing, seam adhesion and durability checks as purchasing specifications.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 rubberised knitted drysuits; FOB value and freight are illustrative. under 6113 00 10 00, invoiced at £28,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £29,500. Duty at 8% is £2,360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £31,860, so it is £6,372. Import taxes total £8,732; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,360 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shell and seams: compare production material with the approved sample; inspect coating coverage, taped junctions, reinforcement edges and adhesion after the agreed care treatment.

Seals and closures: check neck and wrist seals for tears, uneven trimming and secure attachment; operate waterproof zips and inspect their end stops and attachment seams.

Fit and leakage: measure against the size chart with the intended underclothing allowance; use the agreed finished-suit leak procedure to check seams, seals, socks and valve attachments where fitted.

Documents and arrival condition: match labels and supplied reports to the delivered model; check cartons for dampness, coating damage and distorted seals. Record results using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A shell fabric can resist water while the assembled suit leaks through seam junctions, zip ends or attached socks. Stretching the knitted shell can strain seam tape and bonded fittings. Seal substitutions can change fit, comfort and durability, while coating or adhesive substitutions can produce cracking, peeling or tacky surfaces during storage.

Keep an approved garment and material samples, record the seal and zip specifications, and agree acceptance criteria for leakage and adhesion. Check production suits before shipment and repeat arrival checks. A report covering shell fabric alone does not establish the performance of the assembled drysuit.

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.