Sourcing footballs from China
Inflatable footballs from China carry 2% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded on the supplied tariff line. Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Specify construction and test air retention before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources footballs.
UK duty on inflatable footballs
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, inflatable balls under 9506 62 00 00 carried 2% duty on goods from China. Heading 9506 covers sports and exercise equipment, including balls. The table shows football variants sharing the same tariff line, rather than separate commodity classifications.
The supplied football line records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Its attached control is a cultural-goods export licence measure. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance if you later export the goods. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Confirm the commodity code against the actual product before ordering, particularly for a non-inflatable ball or a bundled set. For other products within the heading, see the fitness equipment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflatable training footballs | 9506 62 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the cover, bladder and playing surface
State whether the football is for training, matches, indoor play or promotion. Specify circumference, weight, cover material and thickness, backing, bladder material, valve and stitched or bonded construction. Agree inflation pressure, air-retention checks, rebound and water-absorption checks against an approved sample.
Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Review the finished ball, including its valve and any supplied accessories. Agree material testing with the laboratory before production through testing and certification.
Approve the artwork, print placement, surface texture and packed sample. Record whether balls travel inflated or deflated, and agree packing that avoids permanent creases. Ask the factory to obtain approval before changing the cover, bladder, adhesive or ink.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 logo-printed inflatable footballs; order quantity and values are illustrative under 9506 62 00 00, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,500. Duty at 2% is £350. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,850, so it is £3,570. Import taxes total £3,920; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £350 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Shape and weight: inflate sampled balls to the agreed pressure, measure circumference and weight, and check roundness against the approved sample.
Air retention: check valves and bladders for leaks, record pressure before and after the agreed holding period, and compare results with the specification.
Seams and cover: check stitching, bonded edges, exposed adhesive and surface damage; repeat the agreed rebound and wet-use checks.
Print and packing: rub-check artwork, verify product identification and contact details against approved packaging, and open cartons to check counts and crease damage. Plan these checks using the inspection guide.
What goes wrong
A ball can look correct while losing air through the valve, becoming oval after inflation or taking up water through its seams. Cover substitutions change feel and durability. Bonded panels may lift, stitching may loosen and printed logos may rub off.
Compare production samples with the approved ball after inflation and practical use, rather than accepting photographs alone. Retain samples and inspection records linked to the shipment so that complaints can be traced to the production batch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on footballs from China?
The supplied tariff reading shows 2% for inflatable footballs under 9506 62 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded.
Do training and match footballs have different duty rates?
The table's inflatable training and match footballs share the same tariff line. Confirm classification from the actual construction and contents of the shipment.
How do I check whether footballs leak?
Agree inflation pressure and a holding period before production. Measure pressure before and after that period, and check the valve and bladder when a sample loses air.
What should I send a football factory for a quotation?
Send intended use, circumference, weight, cover and bladder materials, construction, artwork, test expectations, quantity and packing instructions, together with an approved reference sample.