Sourcing coated woven fabric drysuits from China

12% duty on coated woven drysuits

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6210 covers garments made from felt, nonwovens and specified coated or treated fabrics. For coated woven fabric drysuits, check the other men's or boys' garments line, 6210 40 00 00, and the other women's or girls' garments line, 6210 50 00 00. The jacket rows are comparisons for separate tops, rather than alternative codes for a complete drysuit.

The relevant lines carry 12% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or attached import controls. The other-garment lines have conditional 0.00 % suspensions for specified surgical or medical protective garments; ordinary drysuits do not meet that description. The comparison jacket lines have no suspension listed.

Confirm the commodity code using the finished garment, woven substrate, coating or laminate and intended use. For the wider heading, see coated woven rain suits. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify the shell, seals and intended use

State whether the drysuit is for surface watersports or diving, and define the protection claimed. For drysuits supplied as personal protective equipment in Great Britain, confirm the applicable risk category and conformity assessment requirements with the relevant authority. Most new protective equipment needs CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Match the supporting documents to the exact model through testing and certification.

Specify the woven substrate, coating or laminate, fabric weight, reinforcement panels, seam sealing method, watertight zip and its position, neck and wrist seal materials, attached socks or boots, and any valves. Agree a finished-suit leak test and acceptance criteria with the supplier. Define the size chart over the intended underclothing, including torso length and movement when crouching or reaching.

Ask for fibre composition labelling, care instructions and the proposed repair arrangements for seals and zips. Approve a sample with the actual production closures and seam materials. A fabric waterproof test alone does not demonstrate that the assembled suit keeps water out.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 12 men's coated woven fabric drysuits; order, FOB value and freight are illustrative under 6210 40 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 12% is £816. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,616, so it is £1,523.20. Import taxes total £2,339.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £816 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Shell and seams: compare the substrate and coating with the approved sample; inspect pinholes, delamination, seam tape edges and sealing around reinforcement panels. Check finished suits using the agreed leak-test procedure.

Zip and seals: check full closure, zip-end sealing and smooth operation; inspect neck and wrist seals for cuts, uneven bonding and distortion. Check attached socks, boots and valve attachments where fitted.

Fit and movement: measure supplied sizes against the agreed chart and try the suit over its intended underclothing. Check crotch clearance, sleeve reach and pressure from seals during movement.

Documents and packing: match model identification, protective claims, marking, declaration and English instructions. Check that packing has not sharply folded the zip or damaged seals. Arrange quality inspection against the approved sample.

What goes wrong

A sound shell can still produce a leaking suit when seam tape lifts, a zip end is poorly sealed or an attached sock has pinholes. Replacement coatings or seam adhesives can change performance between the approved sample and production. Agree how repairs will be checked before accepting repaired stock.

Short torsos restrict movement over underclothing, while poorly sized seals make an otherwise correct garment uncomfortable. Generic reports for rainwear do not establish the protective performance of the supplied drysuit. Keep surface-use and diving specifications distinct, and require evidence for the exact claims you intend to sell.

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.