Sourcing cotton rib knit fabric from China

8% duty on cotton rib knit fabric

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the cotton lines in heading 6006 cover other knitted or crocheted fabrics that are unbleached or bleached, dyed, made from different-coloured yarns, or printed. Each carries 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control on these cotton lines.

Rib construction alone does not settle classification. Knits wider than 30 cm containing 5% or more elastane belong in heading 6004; narrow knitted fabrics have a separate heading. Confirm the commodity code using fibre composition, width and construction. See the cotton interlock fabric guide for another cotton fabric family within the wider heading.

Specify the rib structure and recovery

State the rib pattern, cotton composition, any elastane content, yarn count, finished mass per square metre and usable width. Specify whether the fabric is supplied tubular or opened out, and how width is measured. Agree stretch and recovery in each direction, washing conditions, permitted shrinkage and the approved shade sample.

Fabric sold by the metre to consumers must show its fibre composition; confirm the permitted fibre names with Trading Standards. For garment production, check the mill's composition declaration before using it for the garment label. Confirm applicable UK REACH azo dye restrictions for textiles contacting the skin with HSE. Ask for relevant testing on the dyed or printed quality intended for that use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 metres of dyed cotton rib knit fabric in rolls under 6006 22 00 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,200. Duty at 8% is £1,056. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,256, so it is £2,851.20. Import taxes total £3,907.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,056 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Structure and dimensions: compare the rib pattern with the approved sample; measure relaxed usable width and mass per square metre across sampled rolls.

Recovery and washing: stretch samples in the agreed directions, check residual growth, then wash and measure shrinkage and twisting before bulk cutting.

Shade and colour transfer: compare rolls and edge-to-centre shade with the approved sample; check washing and rubbing fastness, including printed areas after stretching.

Roll condition: inspect for needle lines, dropped stitches, holes, uneven ribs and damp packing. Match roll identification and dye lots to the packing list. See the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Rib fabric can stretch easily yet fail to recover, leaving neckbands or cuffs loose. Rolls measured under tension appear wider than their relaxed cutting width. Uneven finishing changes weight and shrinkage, while washing can twist the fabric and distort garment seams.

Shade differences between dye lots show up when body panels and trims are combined. Needle lines and uneven ribs remain visible after sewing, and prints may crack when stretched. Keep an approved fabric sample, inspect before shipment and repeat the agreed checks on arrival before cutting.

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.