Sourcing cotton cash transit bags from China

Cotton packing bags: a flat 6%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6305 covers sacks and bags of a kind used for packing goods. Cotton cash transit bags belong within this guide where their function is packing cash for transport. Confirm the classification of the finished design rather than relying on its sales name.

The cotton lines carry 6% duty for goods from China: 6305 20 00 10 for knitted or crocheted bags and 6305 20 00 90 for other cotton bags, including woven constructions. Neither cotton line records anti-dumping or countervailing duty, a suspension or an attached import control. The table shows construction and closure variants sharing these codes; closures do not create separate tariff lines.

Give your customs broker the composition, fabric construction, photographs and intended use to confirm the commodity code. See textile postal sacks for wider packing-bag coverage and UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.

Specify the fabric, cash load and closure

Specify cotton composition, weave, fabric weight, finished dimensions and usable opening. State whether the bag will carry loose coins, bundled notes or an inner cash pouch. Agree the intended loaded weight, seam construction, reinforcement, drawcord channel or zip, and any identification window. Approve a complete sample using the intended contents.

For a sealed design, specify the exact seal and check its fit through the closure. For a lockable design, agree the lock interface and key arrangement. Demonstrate any tamper-evident claim through agreed opening trials. Information included on product labels must be accurate.

REACH restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances. Ask your testing adviser to check applicable restrictions for dyes, printing inks and finishes against the proposed use. Keep material declarations and agreed test evidence with the approved sample.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 6,000 woven cotton cash transit bags under 6305 20 00 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 6% is £588. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,388, so it is £2,077.60. Import taxes total £2,665.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £588 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fabric and size: compare cotton composition evidence and fabric weight with the specification; measure the usable opening and check that the intended contents fit.

Seams and load: inspect missed stitches, seam ends and reinforcement; load complete bags as agreed and check for seam opening, fabric distortion and escaping coins.

Closure and seal: cycle zips or drawcords, check slider retention and eyelet edges, and trial the intended seal or lock. Check whether opening leaves the agreed visible evidence.

Identification and condition: check print legibility, bag identifiers, window attachment, dry and damp colour transfer, and moisture or mould on arrival. Record findings through the inspection process.

What goes wrong

A sample made from firm cotton canvas can be followed by lighter bulk fabric or weaker seam stitching. Coin loads then expose seam gaps, while a narrow opening slows filling and removal. Keep the approved sample and require approval before changing fabric, thread, reinforcement or closure components.

A bag may accept a seal yet still open through a loose drawcord channel or around a zip end. Test the complete closure rather than the seal alone. Do not approve security wording solely from photographs. Damp packing can cause mould, and dark fabric or printing can transfer colour to contents or handling surfaces.

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.