Sourcing knitted balaclavas from China

Duty on knitted balaclavas

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6505 covers knitted or crocheted headgear, including ordinary knitted balaclavas. The relevant other-headgear line carries 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing measure. Its zero-duty suspension is restricted to disposable hair nets, so it does not cover balaclavas. The table shows product variants sharing the same commodity line.

The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Imports containing cat or dog fur are banned. CITES-listed materials require the applicable permit arrangements, including contact with the Chinese management authority for corresponding documents. Commercial seal products are restricted to qualifying traditional hunts and require a recognised attestation. For any animal trim, confirm the species, origin and applicable clearance requirements with your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm construction, materials and intended use through finding your commodity code. This guide concerns ordinary knitted headwear; the caps and hats guide covers the wider heading.

Specify the face opening and stretch

Agree yarn composition, knit structure, fabric weight, lining, seam positions and neck length. Supply measurements for the relaxed head opening, face opening and neck section, together with the intended head-size range. Describe whether the mouth and nose are covered and whether the face panel folds down.

Approve a physical sample for fit, breathing comfort and visibility during normal movement. Check that the face opening stays in position and that seams and labels do not rub against skin. Fibre composition must be labelled; ask Trading Standards to confirm any requirements for label durability and legibility. Agree care instructions and compare the sample before and after washing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,500 knitted balaclavas; FOB and freight values are illustrative. under 6505 00 90 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 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure face openings and neck coverage against the approved sample, try the intended size range and check whether the opening shifts during movement.

Knit and seams: check dropped stitches, holes, uneven ribbing and seam bulk; stretch the opening repeatedly and check recovery and seam integrity.

Fabric and labels: compare yarn feel, lining and colour with the sample; check colour transfer, wash shrinkage and fibre composition against the label.

Packing: check size and colour assortments, carton counts, dampness and odour; use quality inspection to agree the checks before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A balaclava can match the flat measurements yet pull across the nose or move into the eyes when worn. Loose ribbing leaves gaps around the face, while tight openings make removal uncomfortable. Bulky crown seams and scratchy labels can make an otherwise acceptable knit difficult to wear.

Washing can shorten the neck section, distort the opening or expose poor stretch recovery. Approve washed samples in each yarn and lining combination, record the accepted fit, and compare production pieces with that 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.