Sourcing cotton organdy fabric from China
Cotton organdy fabric from China under heading 5208 carries 8% UK duty across the non-medical lines shown here. Classification depends on cotton content, weight and finish, rather than the organdy name. Textile labels must show fibre content. Check crispness after washing as well as transparency. Cambridge China Bridge sources cotton organdy fabric.
Cotton organdy codes and UK duty
Heading 5208 covers woven fabric containing at least 85% cotton by weight and weighing not more than 200 g/m². For cotton organdy, establish the plain-weave construction, measured weight and whether the fabric is unbleached, bleached, dyed or printed. The table selects non-medical lines weighing not more than 100 g/m²; heavier organdy needs a different line.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the selected cotton organdy lines carry 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control on these lines. The heading's 4% suspension concerns unbleached fabric for manufacturing bandages, dressings and medical gauzes, rather than ordinary dressmaking organdy.
Confirm the commodity code using fibre composition, weight, weave and finish before ordering. For wider coverage of this heading, see the cotton voile fabric guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbleached plain-weave organdy, not more than 100 g/m², non-medical | 5208 11 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Bleached plain-weave organdy, not more than 100 g/m², non-medical | 5208 21 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Dyed plain-weave organdy, not more than 100 g/m² | 5208 31 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Printed plain-weave organdy, not more than 100 g/m², other manufacture | 5208 51 00 99 | 8% | None |
Specify transparency and lasting crispness
Specify cotton content, yarn count, thread density, finished weight, usable width, colour and roll length. Supply an approved sample that shows the transparency, stiffness and surface finish you need. Distinguish cotton organdy from synthetic organza in the purchase specification.
Ask the mill to describe the stiffening finish and agree how the fabric should feel after your intended washing and pressing process. Compare washed samples for loss of crispness, shrinkage, yellowing and changes in transparency. Trial seams and folded edges using the intended garment construction.
Textile labels must show fibre content. For dyed fabric intended for direct and prolonged skin contact, ask for restricted azo dye testing under UK REACH, as explained in the site's existing cotton fabric guidance. Match the tested colourway and finish to the ordered fabric.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100 metres of dyed cotton organdy fabric under 5208 31 00 00, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 8% is £192. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,592, so it is £518.40. Import taxes total £710.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £192 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Construction: check fibre composition, weight, thread density and usable width against the approved specification.
Finish: compare crispness and transparency before and after the agreed washing and pressing process.
Appearance: inspect rolls against light for missing yarns, holes, slubs, oil marks and uneven stiffening; compare shade across the width and between rolls.
Identification: check roll lengths, colour and batch labels against the packing list, and fibre information against the composition result. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
A sample can feel crisp while bulk fabric softens after washing. Uneven finishing can leave stiff patches, streaks or changes in transparency. Ask for bulk-lot samples and repeat the agreed care trial before accepting the shipment.
Sheer cloth makes weaving faults and shade changes conspicuous. Keep an approved sample for comparison, record affected rolls and agree the treatment of defects before cutting. A synthetic organza substitution also changes the composition and can invalidate the chosen cotton code.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cotton organdy from China?
The selected non-medical cotton organdy lines under heading 5208 carry 8% duty in the supplied tariff records, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Is cotton organdy the same as organza?
Do not order by name alone. Specify cotton content, weave and finish, and test composition. Synthetic organza does not fit these cotton lines.
Will cotton organdy stay stiff after washing?
That depends on the finish. Compare approved and bulk-lot samples after the intended washing and pressing process, and agree acceptable crispness before ordering.
Does cotton organdy need fibre labelling?
Textile labels must show fibre content. Check that the declared composition matches the supplied fabric rather than relying on the organdy trade name.