Sourcing cotton yarn from China
Cotton yarn of 85% or more cotton from China, not sewing thread and not put up for retail sale, single or plied, carded or combed, in any count, pays 0% UK duty on every line of heading 5205, with no anti-dumping duty. Knitters and weavers check count, twist, evenness, imperfections, hairiness, strength and cone packing.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5205 covers cotton yarn, other than sewing thread, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale, split by single or multiple, carded (uncombed) or combed, and count in decitex. Every line of the heading carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Retail-packed cotton knitting yarn is covered in our hand knitting yarn guide, and sewing thread in our sewing thread guide; confirm the commodity code from the count and ply.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single carded yarn, 714.29 dtex or more (up to Nm 14) | 5205 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Single carded yarn, 232.56 to under 714.29 dtex | 5205 12 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Single carded yarn, 125 to under 192.31 dtex | 5205 14 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Single combed yarn, 232.56 to under 714.29 dtex | 5205 22 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Single combed yarn, 125 to under 192.31 dtex | 5205 24 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying cotton yarn
Specify count (Ne or Nm), carded or combed, ring, compact or open-end spinning, ply and twist, evenness and imperfections, hairiness, strength, fibre origin if claimed, dyed or raw white, 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 stated accurately and supported by evidence, such as supplier certificates or appropriate testing.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 tonnes of Ne 40/1 combed compact cotton yarn under 5205 24 00 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £37,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £37,500, so it is £7,500. 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
Testing: check count, twist, evenness and strength on sample cones.
Appearance: check neps, slubs and contamination on a black board.
Packing: check cone weights, lot labels and moisture. See our quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Cotton yarn orders fail on count, evenness and contamination. Count drifts, imperfections cause barré, polypropylene or other fibre contamination shows after dyeing, and lots are mixed.
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 yarn from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, every line of heading 5205 carried 0% from China.
What is the difference between carded and combed yarn?
Combed yarn has short fibres removed, giving a smoother, stronger, more even yarn.
Is cotton sewing thread in heading 5205?
No. Sewing thread is heading 5204.
What causes barré in knitted cotton?
Usually count variation or mixed lots; keep one lot per order and test evenness.