Sourcing knitted bikinis from China

UK duty on knitted bikinis

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6112 covers knitted or crocheted tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear. The table selects the women's or girls' swimwear lines relevant to knitted bikinis. For other swimwear within this heading, see competitive swimming suits.

For goods from China, the selected lines carry 8% duty where rubber thread accounts for at least 5% by weight, and 12% on the other lines. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, no suspensions and no attached import controls. Obtain composition evidence identifying rubber thread separately rather than treating all stretch fibres as rubber thread.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual construction, fibre composition and rubber-thread content. Ask your customs broker to check the proposed bikini and its material breakdown before shipment. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation method.

Specify bikini fit, lining and wet opacity

Specify the outer fabric and lining composition, knit structure, fabric weight, colour and stretch direction. Define cup shape, coverage, removable pads, strap adjustment, tie length, fastening and gusset lining. Give separate measurement charts for tops and bottoms, with agreed tolerances and the required size pairing.

Approve samples both dry and wet. Agree checks for opacity when stretched, elastic recovery, colour transfer, chlorine exposure and salt-water exposure according to intended use. Record the washing method and acceptance criteria. Check whether pads move, lining rolls out or leg openings cut into the wearer.

For sale in Great Britain, fibre content must be labelled, including fur or other animal parts where present. Approve the wording against the actual materials. General product safety rules require consumer products to be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Include strap attachments, fastening edges and detachable decorations in your safety assessment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 women's synthetic-fibre knitted bikini sets; FOB value and freight are illustrative, not a quotation. under 6112 41 90 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and pairing: measure tops and bottoms against the approved charts; check cup symmetry, coverage, strap adjustment and the sizes packed together.

Fabric and lining: compare shades across cartons; wet and stretch samples to check transparency, lining coverage, dye transfer and pad movement.

Elastic and assembly: stretch waist and leg openings, then check recovery; inspect skipped stitches, opening seams, tie attachments and sharp fastening edges.

Arrival and labels: check for damp, staining and snagged fabric; compare composition labels, size labels and care wording with the approved artwork. Use the inspection guide to record findings.

What goes wrong

A bikini can look opaque when dry but become transparent when wet and stretched. Bulk fabric or lining substitutions can change coverage and recovery. Uneven elastic tension can cause gaping or tight leg openings, while weak strap attachments and displaced pads can make the set unsuitable for use.

Retain approved fabric, lining and finished samples. Require approval before material substitutions, check production samples before shipment and repeat the agreed wet checks on arrival. Record top and bottom sizes separately so packing errors do not leave unusable sets.

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.