Sourcing horsehair and coarse hair yarn from China
Yarn of coarse animal hair or of horsehair from China, including gimped horsehair yarn, whether or not put up for retail sale, pays 2% UK duty under the single code 5110 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping duty. The tariff attaches a CITES check. Weavers of horsehair fabric, rug makers and craft suppliers check fibre content, strength, colour and labelling.
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2% duty and the CITES check
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5110 covers yarn of coarse animal hair or of horsehair, including gimped horsehair yarn, whether or not put up for retail sale. It is a single code carrying 2% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The code carries a CITES import control; declare that no protected species are used only if that is accurate, otherwise obtain the applicable CITES documentation before shipment.
Horsehair fabric is covered in our horsehair fabrics guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yarn of coarse animal hair or horsehair | 5110 00 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specifying the yarn
Specify the animal and fibre content, count, twist, colour (natural or dyed), strength, and put-up. Yarn and products sold to consumers need fibre composition labels under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, so the fibre content must be tested and stated accurately.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 kg of natural horsehair yarn under 5110 00 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £150 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,150. Duty at 2% is £103. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,253, so it is £1,050.60. Import taxes total £1,153.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £103 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fibre: test content; synthetic monofilament is sometimes substituted.
Strength: test breaking strength.
Colour: compare lots against the standard. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Horsehair yarn orders fail on content and consistency. Synthetic filament is mixed in, count varies, and natural colours differ between lots.
Cambridge China Bridge sources yarns and materials for UK mills, makers and craft brands from small lots; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on horsehair yarn from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, yarn of coarse animal hair or horsehair under 5110 00 00 00 carried 2% from China.
Why is there a CITES check?
The code carries a CITES control; declare that no protected species are used only if that is accurate. If the yarn contains material subject to CITES controls, obtain the applicable CITES documentation before shipment.
Is retail-packed horsehair yarn in heading 5110?
Yes. Heading 5110 covers the yarn whether or not put up for retail sale.
What is gimped horsehair yarn?
Horsehair yarn wrapped with another yarn, and it is included in heading 5110.