Sourcing digital textile pigment inks from China
Digital textile pigment inks from China normally carry 6% UK duty; qualifying cartridges carry 0%, giving a format-dependent range of 0% to 6%. In Great Britain, chemical mixtures must be correctly labelled and packaged before sale. Match the ink to the printhead, fabric and curing process. Cambridge China Bridge sources digital textile pigment inks.
Bulk ink at 6%; qualifying cartridges at 0%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3215 covers printing, writing, drawing and other inks, including concentrated or solid forms. For digital textile pigment inks, distinguish black printing ink, other coloured printing ink, qualifying cartridges and other refill ink. The table gives candidate classifications rather than interchangeable codes.
Bulk black and coloured printing inks from China carry 6%; qualifying cartridges without an integrated print head carry 0%. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Narrow suspensions cover specified formulations, including ink for cartridge manufacture under authorised use. Do not assume a textile pigment ink qualifies. The tariff also attaches waste import and export controls. For waste ink from China entering England under notification controls, shipment can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities.
Confirm the formulation, printing use and container construction with your broker using finding your commodity code. Ask the broker to confirm any suspension and the waste-control requirement for your consignment. For wider textile ink procurement, see textile screen-printing inks.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black printing ink for textile inkjet printing | 3215 11 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Other coloured printing ink for textile inkjet printing | 3215 19 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Cartridges without a print head, incorporating mechanical or electrical components | 3215 90 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Other ink, including refill ink where classified here | 3215 90 70 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the printhead, fabric and curing process
State the printer and printhead model, ink delivery system, colours, fabric composition and intended finish. Agree viscosity and surface tension at the operating temperature, pigment dispersion, filtration, storage conditions and shelf life. Request trials on your own fabric using the intended pretreatment and curing process. Approve colour, wash resistance, wet and dry rubbing, and fabric handle together.
UK REACH applies to substances in ink mixtures. For each substance reaching one tonne annually, confirm with HSE the applicable registration requirements and whether the supplier's appointed representative can cover your imports. Obtain an English safety data sheet for each formulation. Before sale in Great Britain, ensure mixtures are correctly labelled and packaged. Keep the composition information, batch analysis and approved fabric samples together.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 tonnes of coloured digital textile pigment ink, illustrative only under 3215 19 00 90, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,900. Duty at 6% is £774. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,674, so it is £2,734.80. Import taxes total £3,508.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £774 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: check colour, formulation reference and batch identifiers against the order and batch analysis; retain sealed samples.
Jetting: trial sampled ink on the specified printhead; check nozzle loss, banding, restart after idle periods and filter blockage.
Fabric performance: print the agreed design on the production fabric; compare shade, wash resistance, rubbing and handle after the agreed cure.
Packing and documents: check seals, leaks, net contents and storage instructions; match labels and English safety data sheets to the supplied formulations.
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What goes wrong
A colour sample can look acceptable while the ink settles, blocks filters or jets poorly in the production printer. Changing the pigment dispersion, binder or fabric pretreatment can alter shade and rubbing resistance. An unsuitable curing process can leave weak wash resistance or a stiff fabric handle.
Approve ink through the full printing and curing process before ordering production stock. Compare arrival samples with retained approved samples and keep suspect batches separate while investigating. A water-based description alone is insufficient to decide the chemical labelling or registration position.
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 digital textile pigment inks from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot gives black and coloured printing ink 6% duty and qualifying cartridges 0%. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Suspensions depend on the exact formulation and use.
Does UK REACH cover textile pigment ink?
Yes, it covers substances in ink mixtures. Review each substance's annual imported quantity and registration position, including any coverage by the supplier's appointed representative.
How do I check whether ink suits my printer?
Trial it on the specified printhead and ink delivery system. Check nozzle performance, idle restart and filter blockage, then assess the print after pretreatment and curing on your fabric.
Can I use the same pigment ink on every fabric?
Do not assume so. Agree the fabric composition, pretreatment and curing process, then compare colour, wash resistance, wet and dry rubbing, and handle on representative fabric samples.