Sourcing hammam towels from China

Duty depends on fibre and towel construction

Heading 6302 covers bed linen, table linen, toilet linen and kitchen linen. This guide focuses on hammam towels used for bathing and drying. The table distinguishes flat-woven cotton towels from woven cotton terry variants and alternative fibres. For the wider heading and conventional bath towels, see the cotton terrry bath towel guide. For hand towels, see our cotton hand towel sourcing guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the selected towel lines carried 12% duty for goods from China. The wider heading ranges from 6% to 12%; the lower rate applies to nonwoven lines, rather than the woven towels selected here. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual fibre composition, construction and intended use before ordering. Describe any terry backing explicitly. A hammam product name alone does not distinguish flat weave from terry fabric.

Specify the weave, fringe and washed dimensions

Agree fibre composition, yarn, weave, fabric weight, stripe placement and finished dimensions. State whether measurements include the fringe and whether they refer to the supplied or washed towel. Specify fringe length, knot construction and hem stitching. Approve and retain a sample after the agreed wash trial.

The label must show fibre content, and only safe consumer products may be supplied in Great Britain. Ask for evidence tied to the actual fabric, dyes and finished construction. Agree absorbency, colour-transfer and washing checks rather than judging the towel solely by its softness before washing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 900 flat-woven cotton hammam towels, illustrative only under 6302 91 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

Fabric: compare fibre documentation, weave, weight, stripe alignment and absorbency with the approved sample.

Washing: measure the towel body before and after the agreed wash trial; check shrinkage, skewing, colour bleeding and stiffness.

Fringe and hems: check knot security, fringe consistency, fraying, loose threads and broken stitching.

Labels and packing: compare fibre labels and pack contents with the specification; inspect arrival stock for dampness, odour and staining.

What goes wrong

A soft sample can hide poor absorbency or a finish that changes after washing. Production towels may shrink unevenly, develop crooked stripes or lose fringe knots. Compare washed production samples with the retained sample, including the towel body and fringe separately.

The supplier describes every style as a hammam towel, while the order mixes flat weave and terry-backed constructions. Keep these as separate specifications and confirm classification for each. Agree how to measure usable towel dimensions so that fringe does not conceal a smaller towel body.

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.