Sourcing flocked textile entrance mats from China
Flocked textile entrance mats from China classified under heading 5705 carry a flat 8% UK duty, with no listed anti-dumping duty. Consumer mats must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Specify flock adhesion, backing and cleaning performance before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources flocked textile entrance mats.
A flat 8% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 22 October 2026, heading 5705 covers other carpets and other textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. All supplied lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The table separates man-made and other textile materials, and hand-made and other manufacture; these are alternatives determined by the actual product.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import controls to other-textile lines, and CITES import controls to 5705 00 80 91 and 5705 00 80 99. Cat and dog fur products are banned. For protected-species material from China, confirm the applicable CITES permits and restrictions with your customs broker before ordering. The data also lists cultural-object export licensing and, on some lines, CITES and fur export controls; ask your broker about these if re-exporting.
Confirm the commodity code from the manufacturing process and textile materials, rather than the supplier's description of a door mat. Ask for a cross-section and a description of how the flock is attached. See the wider rugs and mats guide for other constructions.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man-made textile entrance mats, other than hand-made | 5705 00 30 90 | 8% | None |
| Man-made textile entrance mats, hand-made | 5705 00 30 10 | 8% | None |
| Other textile entrance mats, other than hand-made | 5705 00 80 99 | 8% | None |
| Other textile entrance mats, hand-made | 5705 00 80 91 | 8% | None |
Specify the flock, adhesive and backing
Agree the face fibre, flock length and density, adhesive, base material, backing material, overall thickness, dimensions and edge finish. Specify whether the mat is for a sheltered doorway or an exposed entrance. Retain an approved sample showing the acceptable surface coverage, colour, logo definition and flexibility.
Agree cleaning instructions and test the sample using that method. Check flock adhesion after rubbing, brushing and cleaning, and check whether damp shoes transfer colour. Test the backing on the intended flooring for movement and staining. Confirm that the mat lies flat and clears the door.
Consumer mats sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Confirm with Trading Standards how fibre-content labelling applies to the use surface and backing of these textile floor coverings. Match any declared face-fibre composition to the flock fibre, rather than describing the backing as the face material. Agree supporting tests through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 flocked textile entrance mats, illustrative order under 5705 00 30 90, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,500. Duty at 8% is £1,960. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,460, so it is £5,292. Import taxes total £7,252; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,960 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Flock adhesion: brush and rub samples against the approved sample, checking loose fibres, bald patches, uneven coverage and adhesive showing through.
Backing and edges: check grip on the intended floor, backing adhesion, floor marking, flatness, edge curl and clearance beneath the door.
Cleaning and colour: follow the agreed care method, then check shedding, colour transfer, shape change and separation of the flock or backing.
Labels and packing: check face-fibre composition, care instructions, dimensions and design against the order; inspect unpacked mats for compression creases, moisture and distorted edges.
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What goes wrong
A sample can look dense while production mats have thin flock coverage or weak adhesive bonding. Brushing then exposes the base, and damp cleaning can loosen the flock. Compare production samples after cleaning as well as straight from the carton.
A backing change can alter grip, flexibility and floor staining. Tight packing can leave corners curled or the face permanently creased. Agree acceptance checks before production and use quality inspection to check finished mats against the retained sample.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on flocked entrance mats from China?
The supplied tariff data shows 8% across heading 5705, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Confirm that the actual mat belongs in this heading.
Does a rubber backing make a flocked mat a rubber product?
Ask your broker to classify the complete construction. Supply the face-fibre details, manufacturing process and cross-section; the backing description alone is insufficient.
What fibre composition should the mat label show?
For textile floor coverings, confirm the applicable fibre-content labelling requirements for the use surface and backing with Trading Standards. Check that any declared face fibre matches the flock face.
How do I check whether the flock will shed?
Compare brushing, rubbing and cleaning results with the approved sample. Look for loose fibres, exposed adhesive and bald patches, including around logos and edges.