Sourcing flocked upholstery fabric from China

Duty on flocked upholstery fabric

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, heading 5907 covers textile fabrics otherwise impregnated, coated or covered, and painted scenery canvas. This guide concerns flocked upholstery fabric, with short fibres bonded to a base cloth. The table shows product variants against the same tariff line, rather than separate commodity lines.

The other-fabrics line, 5907 00 00 90, carries 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or import control for that line. The heading's separate suspension for adhesive-coated fabric containing embedded spheres does not describe ordinary flocked upholstery fabric.

Confirm the commodity code using the base cloth, flock, adhesive and backing details, rather than the supplier's name for the fabric. Plastic-coated and rubberised constructions need separate classification consideration. See the wider heading guide for reflective and other covered fabrics.

Specify the flock, adhesive and backing

Specify the base-cloth fibre and construction, flock fibre and length, adhesive system, finished mass, usable width, backing and pile direction. Agree shade against a retained sample, including how the surface looks when brushed in opposite directions. State the intended seat, arm or decorative use and the cleaning method.

For UK upholstered furniture, confirm with the relevant authority whether cigarette and match fire tests apply to the intended cover fabric. Ask a laboratory to confirm the evidence needed for the intended cover and furniture construction. Obtain reports identifying the supplied fabric and finish. Ask for a UK REACH statement covering the adhesive, dyes and finishes; restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 150 metres of flocked upholstery fabric under 5907 00 00 90, invoiced at £1,800 free on board, with £150 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,950. Duty at 4% is £78. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,028, so it is £405.60. Import taxes total £483.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £78 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Flock adhesion: rub and brush samples from the bulk, then inspect for loose fibres, bald patches and exposed adhesive. Compare results after the agreed cleaning treatment.

Shade and pile: compare rolls under the same lighting and pile direction. Check streaks, patchy coverage, print registration and pressure marks against the approved sample.

Base and backing: measure usable width and mass, check stretch and recovery, and inspect for backing separation. Sew a trial seam and look for tearing or adhesive damage.

Evidence and packing: match reports to the fabric identity and finish, retain batch samples, and check roll wrapping for moisture damage. Agree testing and certification before production.

What goes wrong

A soft showroom sample can hide weak adhesion. Bulk fabric may shed flock, develop bald areas at seams or show shade differences when adjoining panels face different directions. Backing changes can alter stretch and sewing behaviour even when the face looks unchanged.

Cleaning may leave water rings, colour transfer or a flattened pile. Agree cleaning trials and abrasion checks on bulk samples, and prevent changes to the adhesive or fire-retardant finish without review. A report for a different backing or finish is a reason to investigate before accepting the 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.