Sourcing hand-knotted polyester rugs from China

Duty on hand-knotted polyester rugs

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 13 October 2026, heading 5701 covers knotted carpets and other textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. Its hand-made synthetic-fibre line, 5701 90 10 10, is the relevant starting point for hand-knotted polyester rugs. The remaining table rows are classification comparisons, not alternative polyester codes.

The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. Import VAT is normally 20%. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import waste control. Confirm its application with your customs broker. If a shipment from China is waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the dispatch country for consent.

Send the broker photographs of the face and back, the manufacturing method and the fibre breakdown to confirm the commodity code. Hand-tufted construction needs a different classification. For wider heading context, see the hand-knotted viscose rugs guide.

Specify polyester pile and genuine knots

Specify pile fibre separately from warp, weft, fringe and any added backing. Agree knot density, pile height, finished dimensions, squareness tolerances, edge finish and colour references. Keep an approved sample showing the expected sheen and pile direction. Ask for workshop photographs that show how the pile is knotted.

For sale in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content. Check the proposed wording against the material specification and fibre test results. Home rugs must be safe, and importers remain responsible for product safety after placing goods on the market. Assess slipping, curled edges and loose fringe against the intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 hand-knotted polyester rugs, illustrative order under 5701 90 10 10, invoiced at £25,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,500, so it is £5,300. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Construction: inspect the back for genuine knots, uneven density, repairs and loose ends; compare with the approved sample.

Fibre and colour: verify polyester pile against test results and label wording; check shade with the pile facing the same direction and test rubbing and cleaning performance.

Shape and finish: measure length, width and diagonals; check pile height, binding, fringe security and whether the rug lies flat.

Arrival condition: unroll rugs to check for dampness, mould, crushed pile and persistent creases; record affected batches before mixing stock.

What goes wrong

A supplier may describe a hand-tufted rug as hand-made without confirming that it is knotted. A polyester pile description can also hide a different foundation fibre or an undeclared blend. Match the purchase specification, sample, inspection report and invoice description before dispatch.

Pile direction can make matching colours look different, while sparse knots leave the foundation visible when the pile parts. Tight rolling can hide curled edges until unpacking. Agree how to assess shade and flatness, and use a pre-shipment inspection to check production against the approved 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.