Sourcing fabric placemats from China

Fabric placemat duty depends on construction

Heading 6302 covers bed linen, table linen, toilet linen and kitchen linen. This guide focuses on fabric placemats within table linen. Specify the fibre composition and whether the fabric is woven, knitted, crocheted or nonwoven before selecting a line. For bathroom textiles, see our cotton terry bath mats sourcing guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the relevant table-linen lines carried 6% to 12% duty for goods from China. Nonwoven man-made fibre placemats carried 6%; the other listed lines carried 12%. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines.

Confirm the commodity code against the finished sample, especially for coated fabric or mixed-material constructions. For the wider table-linen range, see restaurant tablecloths.

Specify fabric, hems and wash performance

Agree fibre composition, fabric weight, finished dimensions, shape, hem construction and print placement. State whether measurements apply before or after washing. For layered mats, identify the face fabric, backing and any filling, and approve a sample that lies flat under a plate.

Textile labels must show fibre content. For consumer placemats sold in Great Britain, general product safety rules require safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Agree the cleaning method and test samples for shrinkage, colour transfer and curling before approving bulk production. Keep claims about stain resistance or heat protection tied to the performance you actually check.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 cotton fabric placemats, illustrative order under 6302 51 00 90, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 12% is £1,008. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,408, so it is £1,881.60. Import taxes total £2,889.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,008 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions and flatness: measure against the approved sample before and after the agreed wash process; check curling, skew and uneven corners.

Colour and print: compare shades across cartons, check print alignment and rub damp fabric against a white cloth to screen for colour transfer.

Hems and layers: inspect loose threads, skipped stitches, puckering and backing separation; check that edges remain secure after washing.

Labels and packing: compare fibre information with the agreed composition, check cleaning instructions against sample results, and inspect for dampness, odour and crushed folds.

What goes wrong

Cotton mats shrink unevenly, dark prints transfer onto pale tablecloths, and tight hems pull corners upwards. Layered mats can curl or separate after washing. A sample made from different fabric or backing can hide these failures, so retain the approved construction and compare it with production.

Inspect arrival samples before distributing stock. Separate mats with mould, persistent odour, loose seams or colour transfer, record the affected batches, and agree corrective action with the factory. Use quality inspection to define the checks before shipment.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.