Sourcing crust ostrich leather from China
Crust ostrich leather has a 2% base UK duty, with a recorded 0.00% suspension subject to its scope, giving a duty range of 0.00% to 2%. Confirm the dry crust classification and species origin; CITES specimens require an import permit. Cambridge China Bridge sources crust ostrich leather.
UK duty on crust ostrich leather
Heading 4106 covers tanned or crust hides and skins of other animals, without wool or hair, whether split or unsplit, but not further prepared. Dry crust ostrich leather falls within the candidate line 4106 92 00 00. The table shows buying variants under the same tariff line. Compare the finished ostrich leather guide when specifying further processing.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the supplied record shows a 2% third-country duty for goods from China and a 0.00% autonomous tariff suspension. Its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these products. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded for this line. Ask your broker to confirm suspension eligibility before costing the shipment.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches CITES import and export controls, cat and dog fur import and export controls, and a seal-products import control. Ask your customs broker to confirm their application to the declared ostrich leather. CITES specimens need an import permit into Great Britain. Obtain species and source records before ordering, and confirm the commodity code against the actual processing stage.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole ostrich body skins, dry crust, without further preparation | 4106 92 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the crust and usable quill area
State whether you need body skins or leg skins, whole skins or splits, and the intended finishing process. Agree thickness, softness, colour, usable cutting area and the distribution of raised quill follicles. Separate the quill-bearing area from smoother flank areas in the cutting plan. Use actual skin photographs and a retained sample rather than a generic leather swatch.
Ask the tannery for the species name, animal source country, tanning method and processing history. Establish whether the Chinese supplier tanned the skins or bought them from another processor. Agree packaging that keeps the skins dry and avoids folded creases. REACH restrictions can limit, ban or impose conditions on substances; agree chemical testing appropriate to the tanning chemistry and intended finished use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of whole crust ostrich skins for a leather workshop, with air freight under 4106 92 00 00, invoiced at £4,106 free on board, with £1,850 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,956. Duty at 2% is £119.12. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,075.12, so it is £1,215.02. Import taxes total £1,334.14; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £119.12 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the shipment to the agreed species, body or leg selection, processing history and batch records.
Cutting yield: lay skins flat and map holes, scars, edge damage and quill coverage against the agreed cutting pattern.
Handle and thickness: compare representative areas with the retained sample; check uneven splits, stiffness and weak grain around follicles.
Packing and condition: check for dampness, mould, grease marks and persistent creases before accepting the lot. Record findings using an agreed inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A skin can match the stated total area yet provide little usable quill-bearing material for your panels. Mixing body and leg skins, accepting poorly defined grades or measuring damaged edges as usable area makes quotations difficult to compare. Agree a defect map and cutting trial before approving the production lot.
A supplier may describe leather as crust without explaining its later surface treatment. Send the processing record and sample photographs to your broker before shipment. Where the application of attached species controls remains unresolved, confirm the requirement with the broker before dispatch rather than treating a Chinese sales invoice as proof of animal origin.
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 crust ostrich leather from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 2% for 4106 92 00 00, with a 0.00% autonomous suspension subject to its scope. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Does crust ostrich leather need a CITES permit?
The tariff attaches CITES controls. CITES specimens need an import permit into Great Britain. Give your broker the species and source records to confirm whether your particular skins require one.
How do I compare ostrich leather grades?
Compare usable cutting area, quill coverage, scars, holes, thickness and softness against a retained sample. Ask for photographs of the actual skins and agree how damaged areas are measured.
Can I buy finished ostrich leather under the crust code?
The heading covers skins that are not further prepared. Ask your broker to assess the actual processing history. A supplier's use of the word crust is insufficient for choosing the code.