Sourcing textile shuttle blanks from China

Duty on densified wood shuttle blank stock

Heading 4413 covers densified wood in blocks, plates, strips or profile shapes. This guide concerns stock for machining textile shuttle blanks. The table shows different stock forms under the same commodity line. For wider material selection, see our densified wood bearing blanks guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, code 4413 00 00 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Densified wood is nevertheless covered by timber due diligence: collect species, harvest country and legality evidence before placing it on the Great Britain market.

Confirm the commodity code against the material and its condition when imported. Send the broker the drawing, manufacturing description and photographs, especially if the supplier has already machined the shuttle shape or fittings. The supplier's description alone should not decide the declaration.

Specify the shuttle blank before machining

State the loom and shuttle design, blank dimensions, machining allowance and intended finished profile. Agree grain and lamination direction relative to the shuttle length, the wood species, resin system, density and moisture acceptance criteria. Identify which faces will become yarn-contact surfaces and where cavities or fittings will be machined.

Approve a sample after machining it into the intended shuttle. Check for torn grain, exposed glue lines and splitting around cavities, then assess yarn contact and fit in the intended equipment. Keep the approved blank and finished sample as comparison pieces; record any change in species, resin or pressing process.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 densified wood textile shuttle blanks under 4413 00 00 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,500, so it is £5,100. 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

Dimensions: measure length, width, thickness and straightness against the blank drawing, including the material left for machining.

Material: compare grain and lamination direction with the approved sample; measure density and moisture against the agreed acceptance criteria.

Bonding and finish: machine a sample to expose internal glue lines; inspect for delamination, cracks, torn grain and rough yarn-contact surfaces.

Traceability: match bundle identifiers to the supplied species, harvest-origin and legality documents; inspect wrapping for dampness and damage.

What goes wrong

A blank can meet its outside dimensions yet fail during machining. Insufficient allowance leaves a cavity wall too thin, grain running in the wrong direction encourages splitting, and weak glue lines open when material is removed. Rough surfaces can snag yarn. Check machined samples through our quality inspection guide.

Damp stock can move after machining, while inconsistent density makes blank weights and machining behaviour vary. Compare incoming batches with the approved sample and hold affected stock for assessment. Missing harvest documents create a separate timber due diligence problem; resolve the supply-chain evidence before shipment.

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.