Sourcing water-hyacinth fibre from China

Duty on dried weaving material

Heading 1401 covers vegetable materials used primarily for plaiting. Dried water-hyacinth stems supplied as raw or simply prepared weaving material fall within the other-material description under 1401 90 00 00, subject to confirmation of the preparation. The table shows purchasing forms sharing that tariff line. Finished baskets and mats need separate classification. For the wider heading, see our natural seagrass weaving fibre guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the relevant line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control of organic products. Confirm its applicability and any certificate requirement for this weaving fibre with your customs broker before shipping.

Confirm the commodity code using photographs, the plant identity, intended weaving use and details of cutting, splitting or other preparation. Plant health requirements depend on the material and processing; ask APHA about the exact dried product before ordering. Do not treat a duty-free tariff line as confirmation that the shipment meets other import requirements.

Specify stems that work in your weave

Describe the material as dried water-hyacinth stems for weaving, rather than using a generic natural-fibre description. Agree whole stems or split strips, usable length, thickness range, colour variation and permitted dark patches against an approved sample. Specify dead material without viable seeds or plant parts. Ask for the drying process and any bleaching, dyeing, preservative or insecticide treatment in writing.

Trial the sample using your workshop's normal softening and weaving method. Check whether strips bend around corners without cracking, retain their width and produce the required surface. Agree bundle net weight, protection against moisture and batch identification. Record a moisture acceptance method with the supplier rather than relying on the word 'dry'.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: bundled dried water-hyacinth stems for a basket-making workshop under 1401 90 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,000, so it is £2,400. 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

Identity and preparation: compare stems or strips with the approved sample; check for mixed materials, seeds, roots, soil and unexplained coatings.

Dryness and cleanliness: open bundles at their centres; check moisture against the agreed method, musty odour, mould, insect holes and loose debris.

Weaving performance: measure usable length and thickness; repeat the agreed softening and bending trial and check for splitting, crumbling and colour transfer.

Packing and records: weigh sample bundles, inspect wet or crushed packaging and match batch labels to drying and treatment records. Repeat these checks on arrival.

What goes wrong

A bundle can look dry outside while its centre remains damp. Mould and musty odour may only become apparent when it is opened. Short pieces hidden inside bundles reduce usable yield; brittle stems break at tight bends; mixed thickness makes the weave uneven. Compare opened bundles with the approved sample before loading and again on arrival.

Do not assume that 'dried' proves every seed or plant fragment is non-viable. APHA warns that tiny aquatic plant fragments can cause significant problems. Ask APHA to confirm importability for the exact species and preparation before placing the order. Keep photographs and the supplier's processing description available for that enquiry.

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.