Sourcing cotton blend yarn from China
Cotton yarn containing less than 85% cotton from China, such as cotton-polyester, cotton-modal and cotton-elastane-core yarns where cotton still predominates, not put up for retail sale, pays 0% UK duty on every line of heading 5206, with no anti-dumping duty. The blend ratio decides both the heading and the fibre label, so it must be tested.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5206 covers cotton yarn, other than sewing thread, containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale, split by single or multiple, carded or combed, and count. Every line of the heading carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Yarn of 85% or more cotton is covered in our cotton yarn guide; where polyester or another man-made fibre predominates, the yarn falls in chapter 55, so confirm the commodity code from a fibre test.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single carded blend yarn, 714.29 dtex or more | 5206 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Single carded blend yarn, 232.56 to under 714.29 dtex | 5206 12 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Single combed blend yarn, 232.56 to under 714.29 dtex | 5206 22 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Multiple carded blend yarn, 714.29 dtex or more per single yarn | 5206 31 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying blend yarn
Specify the blend ratio, count, carded or combed, spinning system, ply and twist, evenness and imperfections, strength, and cone weight. Yarn and products sold to consumers need fibre composition labels under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, so the fibre content must be tested and stated accurately.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5 tonnes of 60/40 cotton-polyester yarn under 5206 12 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,800, so it is £3,360. 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: test the blend ratio on sample cones.
Testing: check count, twist and evenness.
Dyeing: dye a sample to check the blend dyes evenly. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Blend yarn orders fail on ratio and evenness. The cotton share differs from the order, which can also change the heading and the label, count varies, and the blend dyes unevenly.
Cambridge China Bridge sources yarns and materials for UK mills and makers from small lots, with sample cones approved first; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cotton-polyester yarn from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, cotton-rich blended yarn under heading 5206 carried 0% on every line.
When is a cotton blend yarn in heading 5206?
When cotton is under 85% but still predominates; if a man-made fibre predominates, the yarn is in chapter 55.
Why test the blend ratio?
It decides the tariff heading and must match the fibre composition label.
Is retail-packed blend yarn in heading 5206?
No. Cotton yarn put up for retail sale is heading 5207.