Sourcing crochet hooks from China

UK duty on steel crochet hooks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, iron or steel hand-use crochet hooks under heading 7319 carried 2% duty for goods from China. The relevant commodity code is 7319 90 90 00. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or import control.

The table shows crochet-hook formats sharing the same commodity line. Heading 7319 also covers other steel hand needles and pins; see the wider sewing needles and pins guide. Aluminium, bamboo and plastic hooks are classified by their material. Confirm the commodity code using the actual materials and product construction.

Specify the hook head and working shaft

Specify steel type, shaft diameter, usable shaft length, overall length, head shape, throat depth and surface finish. Agree whether the head is inline or tapered, and approve a sample using the yarn or thread your customers will use. Set dimensions against a drawing rather than relying only on the size stamped on the hook.

Define the grip shape, size marking, pack assortment and protective packaging. Consumer hooks sold in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Assess exposed tips, burrs and breakage during foreseeable use, and agree packaging that protects the hook heads.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Assorted retail packs of steel crochet hooks for a craft retailer, illustrative order under 7319 90 90 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,200. Duty at 2% is £344. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,544, so it is £3,508.80. Import taxes total £3,852.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £344 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Head and throat: inspect for burrs and rough edges, then crochet with representative yarn to check snagging, splitting and stitch release.

Dimensions and marking: measure the working shaft against the approved drawing, compare head profiles and check that size markings match the contents.

Finish and strength: check for flaking plating, rust, bent shafts and cracking during an agreed handling test.

Packing: count the assortment, check that hooks cannot rub through the pack and compare the retail description and producer or importer details with approved artwork. Use the quality inspection guide to organise checks.

What goes wrong

A polished shaft can conceal a rough throat that catches fibres. A deep throat or oversized head can make stitches difficult to release, while inconsistent shaft diameters change the finished fabric even when the hooks carry identical markings. Compare production samples with the approved sample using the same yarn.

Plating can peel at the hook head, fine shafts can bend, and mixed packs can contain duplicate or missing sizes. Inspect unpacked hooks as well as finished packs, and record defects by assortment and production batch.

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.