Sourcing hand felting needles from China
Steel hand felting needles within heading 7319 carry 2% UK duty from China across the available lines, with no listed trade remedies. Consumer needles sold in Great Britain must be safe; agree barb geometry, holder fit and protective packaging. Cambridge China Bridge sources hand felting needles.
UK duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7319 covers iron or steel needles and similar articles for use in the hand, together with safety pins and other pins. For barbed hand felting needles, the residual other hand articles line, 7319 90 90 00, is a candidate to confirm against the actual product.
Every supplied commodity line carries 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control. The table shows product variants under the same candidate line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
Send your customs broker the needle drawing, material, photographs and intended hand use to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see hand embroidery needles. Keep industrial machine needles and mixed kits separate from this classification review.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triangular steel hand felting needles, classification to confirm | 7319 90 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the barbed blade and holder fit
Specify steel grade, needle gauge with actual blade dimensions, overall and working lengths, cross-section, barb direction, depth and position, point profile, shank and bent-end geometry. State whether the needle is for shaping, surface finishing or reverse felting. Approve a drawing and a working sample in the wool and holder you sell.
Agree surface finish, corrosion protection, pack contents and how users remove and replace needles without handling exposed points. Consumer needles sold in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Use secure packaging that contains sharp points and warnings to keep needles from young children.
Confirm with the relevant product safety authority what identification is required on the product or packaging, including the producer's name and address and a product reference or applicable batch identification. For needles included in craft kits marketed for children, also confirm whether toy safety rules apply to the whole kit.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of assorted retail packs of steel hand felting needles, subject to classification confirmation under 7319 90 90 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,200. Duty at 2% is £344. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,544, so it is £3,508.80. Import taxes total £3,852.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £344 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Blade and barbs: examine samples under magnification for bent tips, damaged barbs, unwanted burrs and differences from the approved profile.
Working performance: felt the agreed wool against the approved sample, checking fibre pickup, surface damage and resistance during straight insertion and withdrawal.
Holder fit and breakage: fit samples into the intended holder, check retention and alignment, and inspect for bending or fractures during the agreed use trial.
Packing and traceability: count needles, check that types match pack labels, inspect for rust and confirm that protective packs retain needles and contain their points. Use the quality inspection guide to plan batch checks.
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What goes wrong
Matching gauge labels can hide different blade dimensions or barb patterns. A substitute needle may fit the holder but work differently in the wool. Poor temper, bent blades or damaged barbs can cause breakage, snagging or uneven felting; damp packaging can leave rust on the steel.
Freeze the approved drawing, working sample and pack contents before production. Compare each delivered type with its own sample rather than accepting a mixed assortment by appearance. Loose needles, short counts and labels that confuse ordinary and reverse barbs should be resolved before stock is released.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on hand felting needles from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 2% on every heading 7319 line. Confirm the exact code for your hand felting needle; 7319 90 90 00 is a candidate for other hand articles.
Are hand felting needles classified as embroidery needles?
Do not assume that a craft needle belongs in the sewing or embroidery line. Give your broker the barbed blade drawing and intended hand use to confirm classification.
What should I specify beyond the needle gauge?
Specify actual blade dimensions, cross-section, barb direction and position, working length, point and holder fit. Approve performance in your intended wool.
How do I check a shipment of felting needles?
Inspect points and barbs under magnification, compare felting performance with the approved sample, check holder retention and inspect packs for rust, loose needles and short counts.